CVE-2023-22456 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE record details a cross-site scripting vulnerability in ViewVC's revision view changed paths feature. It was published on January 3, 2023, by GitHub_M.

Understanding CVE-2023-22456

This vulnerability, identified as CWE-79, affects ViewVC versions prior to 1.2.2 and 1.1.29. Exploiting this vulnerability requires an attacker to have commit privileges to a Subversion repository accessible via ViewVC. The attack involves manipulating files with unsafe names to execute unwanted code in a browser environment.

What is CVE-2023-22456?

ViewVC, a web interface for CVS and Subversion version control repositories, is susceptible to cross-site scripting. Users are advised to upgrade to version 1.2.2 (for 1.2.x users) or 1.1.29 (for 1.1.x users) to mitigate this vulnerability. Notably, users still on the unsupported ViewVC 1.0.x should implement a manual workaround in their EZT view templates to escape HTML characters in changed paths.

The Impact of CVE-2023-22456

The impact of this vulnerability is medium severity, with low confidentiality and integrity impact. Although no direct availability impact is reported, the need for user interaction and the potential exposure of sensitive repository contents raise security concerns.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-22456

This vulnerability's CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1, indicating a moderate risk level. The attack complexity is low, requiring no special privileges for exploitation, and user interaction is necessary.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user input during web page generation, enabling cross-site scripting attacks through ViewVC's revision view changed paths.

Affected Systems and Versions

ViewVC versions prior to 1.2.2 and 1.1.29 are affected by this vulnerability. Specifically, versions below 1.1.29 and between 1.2.0 to 1.2.2 are vulnerable to exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability involves crafting file names with malicious content to inject and execute unauthorized code within a browser session. Successful exploitation relies on the attacker having commit privileges to a susceptible Subversion repository.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard against CVE-2023-22456, users are advised to take immediate steps to mitigate the risk and implement long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to at least ViewVC version 1.2.2 (for 1.2.x users) or 1.1.29 (for 1.1.x users) to address the vulnerability.
Users still utilizing ViewVC 1.0.x should implement a manual workaround in their EZT view templates to escape HTML characters in changed paths.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update ViewVC installations to the latest stable releases and monitor security advisories for patches and updates. Adopt secure coding practices and restrict access to privileged repository functions to minimize the attack surface.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the ViewVC security advisories and release notes for guidance on applying patches and updates. Stay informed about security best practices and recommendations to enhance the overall resilience of version control systems.