CVE-2023-22380 : What You Need to Know

A path traversal vulnerability in GitHub Enterprise Server allowed for arbitrary file reading when building a GitHub Pages site. This CVE impacted all versions of GitHub Enterprise Server since 3.7 and was resolved in version 3.7.6. The vulnerability was disclosed through the GitHub Bug Bounty program.

Understanding CVE-2023-22380

This section provides insights into the nature and impact of CVE-2023-22380.

What is CVE-2023-22380?

CVE-2023-22380 is a path traversal vulnerability found in GitHub Enterprise Server. It enables unauthorized users to read arbitrary files while constructing a GitHub Pages site on the server.

The Impact of CVE-2023-22380

The vulnerability posed a security risk as it allowed attackers with permission to create and build GitHub Pages sites to access sensitive files on the GitHub Enterprise Server. This could lead to data breaches and unauthorized disclosure of information.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-22380

Here, we dive into the specific technical aspects of CVE-2023-22380.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stemmed from a lack of proper input validation in GitHub Enterprise Server, enabling attackers to manipulate file paths and access files outside the intended directory.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions of GitHub Enterprise Server from 3.7 and onwards were susceptible to this vulnerability. It was only mitigated in version 3.7.6 of the software.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit CVE-2023-22380, an attacker needed the privilege to create and build a GitHub Pages site on the affected GitHub Enterprise Server instance. By manipulating file paths in the site-building process, the attacker could read unauthorized files.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding how to mitigate and prevent vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-22380 is crucial for ensuring the security of systems and data.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users and administrators should update their GitHub Enterprise Server installations to version 3.7.6 or later to eliminate the vulnerability. Additionally, access controls should be configured to limit who can create and build GitHub Pages sites.

Long-Term Security Practices

Practicing secure coding, implementing input validation mechanisms, and regularly conducting security assessments can help prevent similar path traversal vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring security advisories from GitHub and promptly applying software patches and updates can help organizations stay protected against known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-22380.