CVE-2023-22933 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE record, assigned by Splunk, was published on February 14, 2023, highlighting a security vulnerability in Splunk Enterprise and Splunk Cloud Platform.

Understanding CVE-2023-22933

This CVE identifies a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability present in certain versions of Splunk Enterprise, allowing malicious actors to execute scripts in a victim's web browser.

What is CVE-2023-22933?

In Splunk Enterprise versions below 8.1.13, 8.2.10, and 9.0.4, a specific view is susceptible to XSS through the 'layoutPanel' attribute in the 'module' tag. This vulnerability can be leveraged by attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

The Impact of CVE-2023-22933

With a CVSSv3.1 base score of 8 and a severity level of HIGH, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to affected systems. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized script execution, data theft, and potential compromise of user interactions within the application.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-22933

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, including the affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation strategies.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from the failure to properly sanitize user input in a specific module tag within XML views, leading to XSS vulnerabilities in Splunk Enterprise versions mentioned earlier.

Affected Systems and Versions

Splunk Enterprise versions 8.1.13 and below, 8.2.10 and below, and 9.0.4 and below are vulnerable to this exploit. Additionally, the Spluk Cloud Platform version less than 9.0.2209 is also impacted.

Exploitation Mechanism

By injecting malicious scripts or code into the 'layoutPanel' attribute within the 'module' tag, threat actors can craft URLs to execute arbitrary code within the context of a victim's session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-22933, organizations and users are advised to take immediate action to safeguard their systems and data.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected Splunk Enterprise instances to versions 8.1.13, 8.2.10, or 9.0.4 to mitigate the risk of XSS attacks.
Apply security patches and updates provided by Splunk to address this vulnerability effectively.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices and input validation mechanisms to prevent XSS vulnerabilities in web applications. Regularly monitor security advisories from Splunk and other software vendors to stay informed about potential threats and updates.

Patching and Updates

Stay vigilant for security updates and patches released by Splunk to address identified vulnerabilities promptly. Maintain a proactive approach to cybersecurity by ensuring all systems and software are regularly updated with the latest security fixes and enhancements.