CVE-2023-2876 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-2876 article provides detailed information about a vulnerability identified in multiple firmware modules of ABB's REX640 PCL1, REX640 PCL2, and REX640 PCL3 products. The vulnerability allows for Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks due to a sensitive cookie being without an 'HttpOnly' flag.

Understanding CVE-2023-2876

CVE-2023-2876 refers to a vulnerability in ABB's REX640 PCL1, REX640 PCL2, and REX640 PCL3 products that exposes session cookies to client-side scripts, potentially leading to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.

What is CVE-2023-2876?

The vulnerability in question arises from the absence of the 'HttpOnly' flag in sensitive cookies within the firmware modules of ABB's products. This oversight allows malicious actors to exploit the cookies through client-side scripts, thereby executing XSS attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2023-2876

The impact of CVE-2023-2876 includes the risk of unauthorized access, data theft, and manipulation of user sessions. By leveraging XSS attacks, threat actors can potentially compromise the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information stored or processed by the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-2876

The vulnerability description revolves around a sensitive cookie in the firmware modules of ABB REX640 PCL1, REX640 PCL2, and REX640 PCL3 products, susceptible to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.

Vulnerability Description

The lack of the 'HttpOnly' flag in the sensitive cookies of the mentioned ABB products exposes them to exploitation by client-side scripts, enabling XSS attacks that can compromise the security of the systems.

Affected Systems and Versions

ABB REX640 PCL1: versions from 1.0;0 to 1.0.8
ABB REX640 PCL2: versions from 1.0;0 to 1.1.4
ABB REX640 PCL3: versions from 1.0;0 to 1.2.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Malicious actors can exploit the vulnerable cookies in ABB's firmware modules to inject and execute arbitrary scripts on client browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized actions and data compromise.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-2876, it is crucial to implement immediate steps and adopt long-term security practices to enhance the resilience of the systems.

Immediate Steps to Take

Implement secure coding practices to sanitize and validate input data to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.
Regularly monitor and audit the usage of sensitive cookies within the firmware modules to detect any suspicious activities.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct periodic security assessments and audits to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
Educate developers and system administrators on secure cookie handling practices to prevent similar issues in the future.

Patching and Updates

ABB should release firmware updates for REX640 PCL1, REX640 PCL2, and REX640 PCL3 products that address the vulnerability by implementing the 'HttpOnly' flag for sensitive cookies to prevent XSS attacks. Users are advised to promptly apply these patches to secure their systems against potential exploits.