CVE-2023-22731 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-22731 pertains to an improper control of the generation of code in Twig rendered views in Shopware platform.

Understanding CVE-2023-22731

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-94: Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection'). It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 10, denoting a critical severity with high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

What is CVE-2023-22731?

Shopware, an open-source commerce platform based on Symfony Framework and Vue.js, is affected by this vulnerability. In a Twig environment without the Sandbox extension, attackers can reference PHP functions in twig filters like

map

,

filter

,

sort

, allowing the execution of arbitrary code. The attacker needs access to a Twig environment to exploit this issue. The problem has been addressed in version 6.4.18.1 with an override of filters until the integration of the Sandbox extension is complete. Users are recommended to upgrade, and those on major versions 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3 may receive a fix via a plugin.

The Impact of CVE-2023-22731

The vulnerability poses a significant risk, with a base severity score of critical. It can lead to high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-22731

This section provides a deeper insight into the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in the Shopware platform by referencing PHP functions in Twig filters, granting unauthorized access to critical system functionalities.

Affected Systems and Versions

The impacted system in this case is the Shopware platform with versions lower than 6.4.18.1. Systems running these older versions are susceptible to exploitation of the vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability requires access to a Twig environment within Shopware and the absence of the Sandbox extension. By leveraging certain Twig filters, attackers can execute arbitrary PHP code, potentially compromising the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems against CVE-2023-22731, immediate actions and long-term security practices are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to upgrade their Shopware platform to version 6.4.18.1 or higher, where the vulnerability has been patched, or apply the provided fix via a plugin for versions 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3. Enabling the Sandbox extension can add an extra layer of protection against such code injection attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, regularly updating software components, monitoring for suspicious activities, and restricting access to critical functionalities can enhance the overall security posture and prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Staying vigilant about security advisories and promptly applying patches and updates released by Shopware can help mitigate the risks associated with known vulnerabilities, ensuring a more resilient and secure platform environment.