CVE-2023-28628 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE record discusses a vulnerability in the

authority-regex

of the

lambdaisland/uri

library.

Understanding CVE-2023-28628

This section will provide insights into the nature and impact of CVE-2023-28628.

What is CVE-2023-28628?

CVE-2023-28628 affects the

lambdaisland/uri

pure Clojure/ClojureScript URI library. Versions prior to 1.14.120 contain a vulnerability in the

authority-regex

where malicious URLs can be parsed incorrectly, returning the wrong authority. This vulnerability can potentially allow attackers to bypass host restrictions by exploiting the incorrect parsing of URLs.

The Impact of CVE-2023-28628

The vulnerability could be exploited to return the wrong authority when parsing URLs, potentially leading to security bypass scenarios. The incorrect handling of the backslash (

\\

) character in the username within the regex can result in misinterpreted hosts, creating a security risk for applications using the library.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-28628

This section delves deeper into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-28628.

Vulnerability Description

The issue lies in the

authority-regex

function of the

lambdaisland/uri

library, which fails to correctly handle the backslash character in the username, causing incorrect output when parsing URLs. For example, a payload like

https://example.com\\\\@google.com

would mistakenly identify the host as

google.com

, whereas the correct host should be

example.com

.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts versions of the

lambdaisland/uri

library that are prior to version 1.14.120. Users utilizing these versions are susceptible to the exploit.

Exploitation Mechanism

By sending specially crafted URLs containing multiple backslash characters to the

authority-regex

function, an attacker could manipulate the parsing process to return an incorrect authority, potentially bypassing security controls related to host verification.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-28628 in this section.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are strongly advised to upgrade to version 1.14.120 or newer to prevent exploitation of the vulnerability. Updating the library to a secure version is the most effective way to mitigate the risk of incorrect URL parsing.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices when handling URLs and user inputs to minimize the impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future. Regular security assessments and code reviews can help identify and address potential security flaws proactively.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by the

lambdaisland/uri

library maintainers. Promptly applying patches to address known vulnerabilities is crucial to maintaining the security of your applications and systems.