CVE-2023-28442 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2023-28442 focuses on a vulnerability in GeoNode that results in a sensitive information leak, particularly impacting versions prior to 2.20.6, 2.19.6, and 2.18.7. An unauthorized actor can access sensitive information about GeoNode configurations through a specific Geoserver REST API endpoint,

/geoserver/rest/about/status

.

Understanding CVE-2023-28442

This vulnerability affects GeoNode, an open-source platform for geospatial data management and collaboration. The exposed information can be obtained by anonymous users, potentially compromising the confidentiality of GeoNode configurations.

What is CVE-2023-28442?

The vulnerability allows unauthorized users to extract sensitive details about GeoNode configurations through the

/geoserver/rest/about/status

Geoserver REST API endpoint. This information exposure can lead to potential security risks and unauthorized access to critical data within GeoNode instances.

The Impact of CVE-2023-28442

The impact of this vulnerability is categorized as high severity with a CVSS base score of 7.5. It primarily affects the confidentiality of the data stored within GeoNode instances, potentially leading to unauthorized access and data breaches.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-28442

The vulnerability arises from the misconfiguration of Geoserver for GeoNode, allowing access to sensitive information. Here are some technical aspects related to this CVE:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in GeoNode versions prior to 2.20.6, 2.19.6, and 2.18.7 enables unauthorized access to sensitive GeoNode configurations through the

/geoserver/rest/about/status

endpoint, exposing critical information to unauthorized actors.

Affected Systems and Versions

The impacted systems include GeoNode instances running versions >= 2.20.0, < 2.20.6; >= 2.19.0, < 2.19.6; and < 2.18.7. These versions are susceptible to the sensitive information leak vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows unauthorized actors to exploit the misconfigured Geoserver for GeoNode to extract sensitive details via the

/geoserver/rest/about/status

endpoint, compromising the confidentiality of GeoNode configurations.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-28442 and prevent potential security risks associated with the sensitive information leak, the following measures should be considered:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update GeoNode instances to patched versions that restrict access to the affected endpoint.
Implement the backported patches for versions 2.20.6, 2.19.7, 2.19.6, and 2.18.7 to block unauthorized access.
Ensure that all published artifacts and Docker images are updated with the necessary security patches.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit Geoserver configurations to identify potential security vulnerabilities.
Limit access to sensitive APIs and endpoints to authorized users only.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to evaluate the overall security posture of GeoNode deployments.

Patching and Updates

Apply the patch provided for GeoNode versions 2.20.6, 2.19.7, 2.19.6, and 2.18.7 to mitigate the vulnerability.
For existing setups, manually apply the patch within the Geoserver data directory to replace the vulnerable

<geoserver_datadir>/security/rest.properties

file.
Stay informed about future releases and updates that address security vulnerabilities in GeoNode to ensure a secure deployment environment.