CVE-2023-33189 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This article provides an overview of CVE-2023-33189, an Incorrect Authorization vulnerability impacting Pomerium.

Understanding CVE-2023-33189

CVE-2023-33189 involves Incorrect Authorization with specially crafted requests within the Pomerium access proxy.

What is CVE-2023-33189?

Pomerium, an identity and context-aware access proxy, is affected by an improper authorization issue due to specially crafted requests.

The Impact of CVE-2023-33189

This vulnerability could lead to incorrect authorization decisions by Pomerium, potentially compromising system integrity and confidentiality.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-33189

The vulnerability is rated as critical with a CVSS base score of 10. It has a low attack complexity and occurs over a network. The affected versions include 0.17.4, 0.18.1, 0.19.2, 0.20.1, 0.21.4, and 0.22.2 of Pomerium.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from improper authorization handling within Pomerium, triggered by specially crafted requests.

Affected Systems and Versions

Pomerium versions >= 0.17.4 and < 0.22.2 are impacted, including 0.21.4, 0.20.1, 0.19.2, 0.18.1, and versions below 0.17.4.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by crafting specific requests to manipulate authorization decisions within Pomerium.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-33189, users should take immediate action and implement long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Pomerium to version 0.22.2 or apply patches for versions 0.17.4, 0.18.1, 0.19.2, 0.20.1, and 0.21.4 to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Enforce strict authorization controls, monitor access requests, and ensure timely software updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for Pomerium releases and apply security patches promptly to stay protected against potential threats.