CVE-2023-22738 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-22738 impacts the vantage6 platform due to improper preservation of permissions, potentially leading to unintended access by users who are assigned to different organizations within the system.

Understanding CVE-2023-22738

This vulnerability in vantage6, a privacy-preserving federated learning infrastructure, allows users from one organization to access resources in another organization if they are accidentally assigned, posing a risk of unauthorized access.

What is CVE-2023-22738?

CVE-2023-22738, classified under CWE-281 (Improper Preservation of Permissions), affects vantage6 versions prior to 3.8.0. When a user is mistakenly assigned to a different organization, they may retain their permissions, granting them access to information they should not have permission to view.

The Impact of CVE-2023-22738

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as medium severity with a CVSS base score of 6.3. It can lead to high confidentiality impact as users may access sensitive data, although availability impact is rated as none.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-22738

This section dives into the technical aspects of the vulnerability, including a description of the issue, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the improper handling of permissions within the vantage6 platform, allowing users to retain their access rights when assigned to different organizations, potentially leading to unauthorized data access.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected system is vantage6, specifically versions earlier than 3.8.0. Users operating on versions prior to the fix are at risk of falling victim to this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of CVE-2023-22738 involves assigning a user from one organization to another organization accidentally. As a result, the user maintains their permissions from the original organization, enabling them to access data and resources they should not have permission to view.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the risks associated with CVE-2023-22738, users and organizations should take immediate steps, adopt long-term security practices, and apply necessary patches and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations utilizing vantage6 should upgrade to version 3.8.0 or later to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, users should review and verify user assignments to prevent unauthorized access within the platform.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust access control policies, regularly reviewing user permissions, and conducting security audits can help prevent similar permission-related vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

The recommended action for mitigating CVE-2023-22738 is to apply the patch provided in version 3.8.0 of vantage6. Regularly updating the software and staying informed about security advisories can ensure the system remains protected against known vulnerabilities.