CVE-2023-22912 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE record discusses a security issue identified as CVE-2023-22912 in the MediaWiki software. The vulnerability was published on January 20, 2023, by MITRE.

Understanding CVE-2023-22912

The CVE-2023-22912 vulnerability affects MediaWiki versions prior to 1.35.9, 1.36.x through 1.38.5, and 1.39.x before 1.39.1. The flaw lies in the insecure use of AES-CTR encryption with a repeated (re-used) nonce by the CheckUser TokenManager component, which can be exploited by a malicious actor to decrypt sensitive information.

What is CVE-2023-22912?

CVE-2023-22912 is a security vulnerability found in MediaWiki that results from the improper implementation of encryption, making it possible for an attacker to decrypt data through a repeated nonce in the AES-CTR encryption.

The Impact of CVE-2023-22912

The impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the affected MediaWiki instances. Attackers exploiting this flaw could potentially compromise confidential data.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-22912

This section delves into the specific technical aspects of the CVE-2023-22912 vulnerability, including a description of the vulnerability, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in CVE-2023-22912 arises from the insecure usage of AES-CTR encryption with a repeated nonce by the CheckUser TokenManager in MediaWiki versions mentioned earlier. This flawed implementation allows threat actors to decrypt encrypted data.

Affected Systems and Versions

MediaWiki instances running versions prior to 1.35.9, 1.36.x through 1.38.5, and 1.39.x before 1.39.1 are susceptible to CVE-2023-22912 due to the insecure AES-CTR encryption usage in the CheckUser TokenManager.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the repeated nonce in the AES-CTR encryption, attackers can exploit the CVE-2023-22912 vulnerability to decrypt sensitive information within affected MediaWiki installations.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address the CVE-2023-22912 vulnerability, proactive mitigation and prevention measures should be implemented by organizations utilizing the impacted MediaWiki versions.

Immediate Steps to Take

Immediate steps to mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2023-22912 include applying security patches or updates provided by MediaWiki to address the encryption vulnerability promptly.

Long-Term Security Practices

Organizations should prioritize the implementation of strong encryption practices and regularly review their security protocols to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

It is crucial for organizations using MediaWiki to monitor security advisories and promptly apply patches or updates released by the vendor to remediate the CVE-2023-22912 vulnerability and enhance the overall security posture of their systems.