CVE-2023-26434 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE record was published on June 20, 2023, and has the CVE ID of CVE-2023-26434. It was updated on January 12, 2024, and the assigner organization is OX.

Understanding CVE-2023-26434

CVE-2023-26434 is a vulnerability found in the OX App Suite affecting versions less than or equal to 7.10.6-rev39. It relates to how the application processes POP3 "capabilities" responses, potentially leading to resource exhaustion and service unavailability.

What is CVE-2023-26434?

The vulnerability in CVE-2023-26434 arises when adding an external mail account, where the processing of POP3 "capabilities" responses is not restricted to reasonable sizes. This could allow an attacker with access to a malicious POP3 service to trigger requests that consume excessive resources, causing service disruption. The issue has been addressed by limiting the accepted POP3 server response to a reasonable length.

The Impact of CVE-2023-26434

With a CVSS base score of 4.3 (Medium severity), this vulnerability has a low attack complexity and requires low privileges. While it has a low impact on confidentiality and integrity, it could lead to service unavailability, affecting the availability of the OX App Suite.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-26434

This section covers a detailed technical description of the vulnerability, the affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows an attacker to exploit the processing of POP3 "capabilities" responses to cause resource exhaustion and disrupt the OX App Suite service.

Affected Systems and Versions

The CVE affects OX App Suite versions up to 7.10.6-rev39, specifically impacting the backend modules of the application provided by OX Software GmbH.

Exploitation Mechanism

By sending specially crafted requests through a rogue POP3 service, an attacker can trigger excessive resource consumption in the OX App Suite, leading to service unavailability.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-26434 and prevent its exploitation, certain steps and security measures can be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the OX App Suite to version 7.10.6-rev39 or higher to apply the necessary patches.
Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity related to POP3 communications.
Implement access controls and restrictions to limit exposure to potentially malicious POP3 services.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly apply security updates and patches provided by OX Software GmbH for the OX App Suite.
Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and releases from the software vendor to ensure timely application of patches and updates that address CVE-2023-26434. Utilize the provided references for more information on the vulnerability and recommended actions.