CVE-2023-26044 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE pertains to a vulnerability in ReactPHP's HTTP server that can lead to uncontrolled resource consumption, potentially causing high CPU load when processing large HTTP request bodies.

Understanding CVE-2023-26044

ReactPHP's HTTP server component in versions prior to 1.9.0 is susceptible to a Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability that can be exploited to consume significant CPU resources, impacting the processing of legitimate user requests.

What is CVE-2023-26044?

The CVE-2023-26044 vulnerability in ReactPHP's HTTP server component allows attackers to exploit the RequestBodyBufferMiddleware with large settings, leading to excessive CPU usage and delays in request processing. While the default configuration is minimally affected, explicit use of the vulnerable component can result in resource exhaustion.

The Impact of CVE-2023-26044

The vulnerability poses a medium severity threat with a CVSS base score of 5.3. Attack complexity is low, requiring no privileges, and exposure is through network vectors. Although confidentiality and integrity impacts are none, the availability impact is low.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-26044

The vulnerability description highlights that the ReactPHP's HTTP server component can be manipulated to cause high CPU consumption by processing large HTTP request bodies. The issue has been resolved in version 1.9.0 of the software.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw arises from the HTTP server continuing to parse multipart parts even after reaching predefined limits, which can lead to resource exhaustion and service disruption.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects ReactPHP's HTTP server versions equal to or greater than 0.8.0 and less than 1.9.0. Systems running these versions are vulnerable to the DoS risk posed by excessive resource consumption.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting the RequestBodyBufferMiddleware with large settings, threat actors can cause the CPU load to spike, resulting in delayed processing of legitimate requests and potential service slowdowns.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-26044, immediate actions and long-term security measures are recommended to mitigate the risk and ensure system integrity.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to upgrade their ReactPHP HTTP server to version 1.9.0 or later to mitigate the vulnerability. Alternatively, limiting the request body using RequestBodyBufferMiddleware with appropriate values can also help mitigate the issue. Implementing a reverse proxy to filter out excessive HTTP request bodies is a practical infrastructure workaround.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly updating software and promptly applying patches offered by software vendors can help safeguard systems against known vulnerabilities. Maintaining awareness of security advisories and best practices is crucial for enhancing overall system security.

Patching and Updates

As the vulnerability has been resolved in version 1.9.0 of ReactPHP's HTTP server, users are strongly encouraged to update their software to the latest release to eliminate the risk of uncontrolled resource consumption and potential DoS attacks.