CVE-2023-2226 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-2226 article provides detailed information about a security vulnerability affecting Rapid7's Velociraptor software. The vulnerability allows attackers to crash Velociraptor during the parsing of maliciously malformed PE or OLE files.

Understanding CVE-2023-2226

This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2023-2226, shedding light on what the vulnerability entails and its potential impact.

What is CVE-2023-2226?

Insufficient validation in the PE Parser and OLE Parser modules within Rapid7's Velociraptor versions prior to 0.6.8 enables attackers to crash the software by exploiting malformed files. This vulnerability requires the attacker to introduce malicious files to the system while Velociraptor attempts to parse PE files, Authenticode signatures, or OLE files. Despite the crash, Velociraptor service restarts, allowing the collection of other artifacts.

The Impact of CVE-2023-2226

The vulnerability poses a low severity risk with a CVSSv3.1 base score of 3.3. It has an attack complexity labeled as low, with a local attack vector and required user interaction, affecting the availability of the system. The vulnerability falls under CAPEC-540 - Overread Buffers.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-2226

This section delves into technical details such as the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw resides in Rapid7's Velociraptor versions earlier than 0.6.8 due to insufficient validation in the PE and OLE parsers. This allows attackers to crash Velociraptor during the parsing of maliciously malformed files.

Affected Systems and Versions

Velociraptor versions less than 0.6.8 are impacted by this vulnerability. The affected modules include PE Parser, OLE Parser, and Authenticode Parser, primarily running on Windows platforms.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by introducing maliciously malformed PE or OLE files into the system, causing Velociraptor to crash during the parsing process.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2023-2226 to ensure the security of systems running Rapid7's Velociraptor software.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Velociraptor clients to version 0.6.8-2 to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement proactive security measures such as monitoring file inputs for malicious content and regularly updating software to prevent future vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly apply patches and updates provided by Rapid7 to ensure that Velociraptor is equipped with the latest security enhancements and fixes the vulnerability.