A recent vulnerability has been discovered in various Control Panel modules, which has been assigned an identification number, CVE-2023-52363. This particular security flaw allows malformed input to trigger unwanted app execution processes by taking advantage of defects introduced during the module's design process.

CVE-2023-52363 represents a crucial vulnerability that, when exploited, can lead to unauthorized initiation of application processes, potentially causing significant system disruptions, data loss, or even security breaches in affected systems.

In this post, we will explore the details of CVE-2023-52363, illustrated with code snippets, links to original references, and an explanation of how the vulnerability can be exploited.

Vulnerability Details

The issue stems from defects in how various Control Panel modules validate user input during their design process. In particular, these design flaws make it possible for an attacker to introduce malformed input via specially crafted strings or parameters, which can then trigger application processes to be executed inadvertently.

To better understand the vulnerability, consider the following code snippet extracted from an example Control Panel module:

def validate_input(self, input_string):
    result = self.filter_chars(input_string)
    if len(result) == :
        # Raise an exception if the input is empty
        raise ValueError("The input string should not be empty.")
    return result

def filter_chars(self, input_string):
    return ''.join(c for c in input_string if c in self.allowed_chars)

def process_input(self, input_string):
    validated_input = self.validate_input(input_string)
    # Do something with the validated input

The validate_input function attempts to validate user input by removing disallowed characters using the filter_chars function, then checking if the resulting string is empty. However, the design flaw resides precisely in the filter_chars function, where an attacker could potentially exploit the vulnerability by crafting a specific input that bypasses the character filter, thus causing the validated_input string to be executed even if it should not be.

Exploit Details

To exploit CVE-2023-52363, an attacker could craft a malicious input string or parameter that bypasses the character filtering process and triggers unintentional application processes. Depending on the context and environment, this could range from simply crashing a system to gaining unauthorized access or executing malicious code.

One example of such a malformed input string that takes advantage of this vulnerability might be

"; shutdown /r /t "

If a Control Panel verifies the user input, this string would remain unaltered and be inadvertently executed, causing the entire system to be restarted. The exploit's impact will depend on the specific environment and module being targeted and may have serious consequences, such as data loss, system crashes, or security breaches.

References

For more information on CVE-2023-52363, as well as remediation techniques and mitigation strategies, consult the following resources:

1. Original disclosure: Vulnerability Advisory - CVE-2023-52363 Control Panel Design Flaw
2. CVE database entry: CVE-2023-52363 - National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
3. Mitigation strategies: Securing Control Panel Modules

Conclusion

CVE-2023-52363 represents a critical design flaw in various Control Panel modules, which can lead to severe system disruptions or security breaches if exploited correctly. System administrators and developers should implement the necessary mitigation strategies to minimize the potential risks and update their systems as new patches and fixes are made available.

Timeline

Published on: 02/18/2024 03:15:08 UTC
Last modified on: 02/20/2024 19:50:53 UTC