CVE-2023-25577 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2023-25577 affects Werkzeug, a comprehensive WSGI web application library, potentially allowing high resource usage when parsing multipart form data with many fields.

Understanding CVE-2023-25577

This vulnerability, assigned the ID CVE-2023-25577, pertains to Werkzeug's multipart form data parser, specifically impacting versions prior to 2.2.3.

What is CVE-2023-25577?

Werkzeug's multipart form data parser in versions below 2.2.3 can parse an unlimited number of parts, including file parts. This unrestricted parsing capability can lead to high resource usage, posing a risk of denial of service attacks by causing resource exhaustion.

The Impact of CVE-2023-25577

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted multipart data to an endpoint that parses it, resulting in excessive CPU usage, potential out-of-memory kills, and exhaustion of available workers. Such attacks could disrupt service availability and impact system performance.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-25577

This section provides a deeper dive into the vulnerability's technical aspects.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to the unlimited parsing of multipart form data, leading to significant resource consumption during processing. Attackers can leverage this flaw to exhaust system resources and disrupt normal operations.

Affected Systems and Versions

Systems running Werkzeug versions prior to 2.2.3 are vulnerable to this issue. Users of affected versions should upgrade to version 2.2.3 or apply patches promptly to mitigate the risk.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted multipart form data requests to endpoints that trigger the parsing mechanism. The excessive resource consumption during parsing enables attackers to launch denial of service attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from the risks associated with CVE-2023-25577, immediate steps should be taken along with implementing long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Werkzeug to version 2.2.3 or newer to eliminate the vulnerability and protect against potential exploitation.
Monitor system resources closely for any signs of unusual resource consumption that could indicate an ongoing attack.
Consider implementing rate limiting or request validation mechanisms to mitigate the risk of denial of service attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update libraries and dependencies within your application stack to ensure you are running the latest secure versions.
Conduct security audits and code reviews to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities proactively.
Educate developers and system administrators on secure coding practices and the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions.

Patching and Updates

The release of Werkzeug version 2.2.3 includes a patch addressing the vulnerability. Users are advised to promptly update their Werkzeug installation to the patched version to secure their systems against potential exploitation.