CVE-2023-29449 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A detailed analysis of CVE-2023-29449 focusing on the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2023-29449

CVE-2023-29449 involves limited control of resource utilization in JS preprocessing within Zabbix, potentially leading to uncontrolled CPU, memory, and disk I/O utilization.

What is CVE-2023-29449?

The vulnerability arises from JavaScript preprocessing, webhooks, and global scripts causing excessive resource allocation, leading to potential system performance issues. Access to these configurations is restricted to administrative roles, mitigating the overall security risk.

The Impact of CVE-2023-29449

The impact of CVE-2023-29449 is classified as 'CAPEC-130 Excessive Allocation,' with a CVSS base score of 5.9 (Medium severity). The vulnerability poses a high availability impact but does not compromise confidentiality or integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-29449

The vulnerability affects Zabbix versions 4.4.4, 5.0.0alpha1, 5.2.0alpha1, 5.4.0alpha1, 6.0.0alpha1, 6.2.0alpha1, and 6.4.0alpha1 for specific configuration scenarios involving JavaScript preprocessing and global scripts.

Vulnerability Description

JavaScript preprocessing, webhooks, and global scripts can lead to uncontrolled CPU, memory, and disk I/O consumption, impacting system performance and stability. Only users with administrative privileges can configure and test these elements.

Affected Systems and Versions

Zabbix versions up to 6.4.0alpha1 are vulnerable to this issue, with specific version types being affected based on the JavaScript preprocessing configurations.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors or inadvertently by users with administrative roles configuring JavaScript preprocessing, webhooks, or global scripts in a way that leads to excessive resource consumption.

Mitigation and Prevention

Efficient mitigation strategies can help prevent potential exploitation of CVE-2023-29449 and ensure system security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Restrict administrative privileges to essential users, closely monitor resource utilization, and apply necessary configurations to limit excessive resource consumption.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update permission settings, enforce a least privilege access model, and educate administrators on safe configuration practices.

Patching and Updates

Apply recommended patches, update Zabbix to the latest versions, and stay informed about security advisories to protect systems from known vulnerabilities.