CVE-2023-22792 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This article provides detailed insights into CVE-2023-22792, a regular expression-based Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability in Action Dispatch.

Understanding CVE-2023-22792

CVE-2023-22792 refers to a vulnerability in Action Dispatch that allows malicious actors to trigger a DoS attack by exploiting specially crafted cookies and X_FORWARDED_HOST headers.

What is CVE-2023-22792?

The vulnerability in Action Dispatch <6.0.6.1, <6.1.7.1, and <7.0.4.1 allows for catastrophic backtracking in the regular expression engine, leading to excessive CPU and memory usage. This exploitation can result in a DoS attack, impacting the availability of the targeted system.

The Impact of CVE-2023-22792

If successfully exploited, CVE-2023-22792 can result in a DoS attack, causing the affected process to consume significant CPU and memory resources. This can lead to system unresponsiveness and potential downtime, posing a threat to the availability of services.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-22792

This section delves into the specific technical aspects of the CVE-2023-22792 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from a flaw in the regular expression engine of Action Dispatch, allowing for catastrophic backtracking when processing malicious input. This behavior can be triggered by specially crafted cookies and X_FORWARDED_HOST headers.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts versions <6.0.6.1, <6.1.7.1, and <7.0.4.1 of Action Dispatch. Users operating on these versions are at risk of exploitation and should take immediate action to mitigate the threat.

Exploitation Mechanism

By sending specially crafted cookies and X_FORWARDED_HOST headers, threat actors can induce the regular expression engine in Action Dispatch to enter a state of catastrophic backtracking. This can lead to excessive resource consumption, ultimately resulting in a DoS condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems against the CVE-2023-22792 vulnerability, proactive measures need to be implemented promptly.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users of affected versions should upgrade to the latest non-vulnerable releases of Action Dispatch or apply recommended workarounds to mitigate the risk of a potential DoS attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Incorporating secure coding practices, regular security assessments, and staying informed about emerging vulnerabilities are essential for maintaining a robust security posture and reducing the likelihood of successful attacks.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring for security patches and updates from the vendor, as well as promptly applying them to the system, is crucial in addressing known vulnerabilities and enhancing overall security resilience.