CVE-2023-26493 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-26493 involves a Command Injection vulnerability in the Cocos Engine workflow, impacting versions prior to 6d06aefa26. The vulnerability was published on March 27, 2023, and has a CVSS base score of 8.1, categorizing it as high severity.

Understanding CVE-2023-26493

This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2023-26493, detailing the vulnerability, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-26493?

Cocos Engine, an open-source framework for real-time rendering and interactive content, was found to have a command injection vulnerability in the

web-interface-check.yml

file. This vulnerability allowed malicious actors to execute arbitrary commands on GitHub Runners, potentially compromising sensitive information like GITHUB_TOKEN and making unauthorized changes to the repository.

The Impact of CVE-2023-26493

The impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it could lead to unauthorized access, data theft, and repository tampering. As a high severity vulnerability, it poses a serious risk to the security and integrity of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-26493

This section provides a deeper insight into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-26493, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the

web-interface-check.yml

file of Cocos Engine allowed for command injection by leveraging user-controlled input fields, enabling attackers to run arbitrary commands on GitHub Runners.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions of Cocos Engine prior to 6d06aefa26 are affected by this vulnerability, making them susceptible to exploitation and unauthorized access.

Exploitation Mechanism

By manipulating the user-controllable field

(${{ github.head_ref }} – the name of the fork’s branch)

in the

web-interface-check.yml

file, threat actors could exploit the vulnerability to execute commands on the GitHub Runner.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-26493 and enhance security measures, organizations and users can implement the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Cocos Engine to a version beyond 6d06aefa26 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Remove any unnecessary or potentially risky workflows from repositories to minimize attack surfaces.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and audit configurations and permissions related to CI/CD workflows to prevent unauthorized access.
Educate developers and users on secure coding practices to avoid similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Cocos Engine to address vulnerabilities promptly. Regularly monitor official channels for security advisories and follow best practices for secure coding and repository management.