CVE-2023-47225 represents a critical security vulnerability discovered in KaizenCoders' Short URL application, affecting versions n/a through 1.6.8. This vulnerability stems from a missing authorization flaw allowing attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels. In this blog post, we will delve into the details of this vulnerability and provide insights into possible exploit scenarios.

Vulnerability Description

The missing authorization vulnerability in KaizenCoders Short URL stems from an issue in the access control implementation. Due to this flaw, attackers can manipulate the URL shortening service, access and modify short URLs, and even redirect users to malicious sites. This issue has widespread implications, as it puts user data and security at great risk.

The impacted versions of KaizenCoders Short URL are as follows

- Short URL versions n/a through 1.6.8

Exploit Details

The vulnerability allows an attacker to perform unauthorized actions on Short URLs. One possible exploit scenario involves an attacker intercepting an authorized user's session, gaining access to the application's administrative controls, and modifying the destination URL.

To illustrate this vulnerability, consider the following piece of code

# Example vulnerable code in KaizenCoders Short URL
def update_short_url(request, short_url_id)
    # Missing authorization check for the current user
    short_url = get_short_url(short_url_id)
    if request.method == 'POST':
        new_destination = request.POST.get('destination')
        short_url.destination = new_destination
        short_url.save()
        return redirect('short_url:manage')
    return render(request, 'short_url/edit.html', {'short_url': short_url})

As seen in the code snippet above, the update_short_url function allows users to modify the destination URL. However, there is no authorization check, enabling any user – including malicious ones – to change the destination without the necessary permissions.

To fix this vulnerability, the developers need to insert an authorization check before allowing users to modify any URL. For example, the updated code may look like this:

# Example fixed code
def update_short_url(request, short_url_id)
    # Added an authorization check for the current user
    if not request.user.has_permission('short_url.change_destination'):
        raise PermissionDenied()
    short_url = get_short_url(short_url_id)
    if request.method == 'POST':
        new_destination = request.POST.get('destination')
        short_url.destination = new_destination
        short_url.save()
        return redirect('short_url:manage')
    return render(request, 'short_url/edit.html', {'short_url': short_url})

To learn more about the CVE-2023-47225 vulnerability, you can consult the following resources

1. CVE Details: CVE-2023-47225
2. Mitre Official Listing: CVE-2023-47225
3. National Vulnerability Database (NVD): CVE-2023-47225

Conclusion

The CVE-2023-47225 vulnerability puts many users at risk by allowing unauthorized access to KaizenCoders Short URL's administrative controls. To mitigate this vulnerability, users should immediately update to the latest version of the application. Additionally, developers must implement comprehensive authorization checks to prevent future security breaches.

Timeline

Published on: 01/02/2025 12:15:15 UTC