CVE-2022-23993 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability has been discovered in pfSense CE before 2.6.0 and pfSense Plus before 22.01 that allows for XSS due to the improper use of $_REQUEST['pkg_filter'] in a PHP echo call.

Understanding CVE-2022-23993

This CVE involves a security issue in pfSense CE and pfSense Plus that could lead to cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.

What is CVE-2022-23993?

The vulnerability in /usr/local/www/pkg.php allows attackers to execute malicious scripts on the client side, compromising user data and potentially leading to further attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2022-23993

Exploitation of this vulnerability could result in unauthorized access to sensitive information, manipulation of content, and other harmful activities by attackers.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-23993

This section provides more insight into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue lies in the insecure use of $_REQUEST['pkg_filter'] in a PHP echo call, which opens the door for XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

pfSense CE versions before 2.6.0 and pfSense Plus versions before 22.01 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

By injecting malicious scripts through $_REQUEST['pkg_filter'], threat actors can execute unauthorized code within the context of the vulnerable application.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems against CVE-2022-23993 requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their pfSense installations to version 2.6.0 for CE and 22.01 for Plus to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing input validation, output encoding, and other secure coding practices can help prevent XSS vulnerabilities in web applications.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring for security updates from pfSense and applying patches promptly is crucial to maintaining a secure environment.