CVE-2023-3193 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE record provides details about a Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in Liferay Portal 7.4.3.70 through 7.4.3.73 and Liferay DXP 7.4 update 70 through 73. Remote attackers could exploit this vulnerability to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a specific parameter.

Understanding CVE-2023-3193

This section will delve into the specifics of CVE-2023-3193, outlining its impact, technical details, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-3193?

The CVE-2023-3193 is a Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in the Layout module's SEO configuration in Liferay Portal versions 7.4.3.70 through 7.4.3.73, and Liferay DXP versions 7.4 update 70 through 73. This vulnerability allows malicious actors to insert malicious web scripts or HTML code through a particular parameter, potentially leading to unauthorized actions on the affected systems.

The Impact of CVE-2023-3193

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as medium severity with a CVSS base score of 6.1. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw to perform XSS attacks, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of the affected systems. While the attack complexity is low, user interaction is required, making it important to address this issue promptly.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-3193

Here we will explore the technical aspects of the CVE-2023-3193 vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS vulnerability in the Layout module's SEO configuration of Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP versions mentioned allows attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML through a specific parameter, potentially leading to unauthorized actions.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected systems include Liferay Portal versions 7.4.3.70 through 7.4.3.73 and Liferay DXP versions 7.4 update 70 through 73. Users operating these versions are at risk of exploitation if the necessary precautions are not taken.

Exploitation Mechanism

Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating the

_com_liferay_layout_admin_web_portlet_GroupPagesPortlet_backURL

parameter, allowing them to inject malicious web script or HTML into the affected systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-3193 and enhance the security posture of affected systems, immediate steps should be taken along with the adoption of long-term security practices and timely patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations using the impacted Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP versions should implement security measures like input validation, output encoding, and parameterized queries to mitigate the risk of XSS attacks. It is crucial to sanitize user inputs and validate outputs to prevent unauthorized script injections.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, it is recommended to conduct regular security assessments, keep systems updated with the latest security patches, provide security awareness training to employees, and implement a robust web application firewall to protect against XSS vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Users are advised to install the necessary patches and updates released by Liferay to address the CVE-2023-3193 vulnerability. Timely patching helps in closing security gaps and safeguarding systems from potential exploitation.