CVE-2023-30575 : What You Need to Know

Apache Guacamole 1.5.1 and older versions may incorrectly calculate the lengths of instruction elements sent during the Guacamole protocol handshake, potentially allowing an attacker to inject malicious instructions during the handshake. It was discovered by Stefan Schiller (Sonar) and reported to security@guacamole.apache.org.

Understanding CVE-2023-30575

This section provides insights into the vulnerability details, impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies associated with CVE-2023-30575.

What is CVE-2023-30575?

CVE-2023-30575 involves the incorrect calculation of the lengths of instruction elements sent during the Guacamole protocol handshake in Apache Guacamole versions 1.5.1 and older. This flaw could be exploited by an attacker to inject malicious instructions.

The Impact of CVE-2023-30575

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with a CVSS base score of 6.5 (Medium). It could lead to the injection of unauthorized instructions during the Guacamole protocol handshake, potentially compromising the integrity of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-30575

In this section, we delve into the specifics of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

Apache Guacamole 1.5.1 and older versions incorrectly calculate the lengths of instruction elements during the protocol handshake, enabling an attacker to inject unauthorized instructions using specially-crafted data.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts Apache Guacamole versions 1.5.1 and older, potentially exposing systems that utilize this software to exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the length calculation of instruction elements sent during the Guacamole protocol handshake, allowing them to inject malicious instructions.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2023-30575 and prevent potential exploits.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update Apache Guacamole to version 1.5.2 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement network security measures to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor security mailing lists and vendor advisories for patches and updates.
Conduct security assessments and penetration testing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apache Guacamole users should apply the latest patches and updates released by the Apache Software Foundation to address the vulnerability.