CVE-2023-33480 : What You Need to Know

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-33480, a critical vulnerability in RemoteClinic 2.0 that allows a remote attacker to create admin users, escalate privileges, and execute arbitrary code.

Understanding CVE-2023-33480

CVE-2023-33480 is a security flaw in RemoteClinic 2.0 that enables a malicious actor with low-privileged user credentials to manipulate the system and gain unauthorized access.

What is CVE-2023-33480?

CVE-2023-33480 involves a vulnerability chain in RemoteClinic 2.0 that allows an attacker to exploit the lack of input validation and access control in specific endpoints to execute malicious actions.

The Impact of CVE-2023-33480

The impact of CVE-2023-33480 is severe as it enables unauthorized users to create admin accounts, elevate privileges, and run arbitrary code on the target system using a PHP shell.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-33480

This section explores the technical aspects of CVE-2023-33480 to understand how the vulnerability operates.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the insufficient input validation and access control in the staff/register.php endpoint and the edit-my-profile.php page, allowing an attacker to perform unauthorized actions.

Affected Systems and Versions

RemoteClinic 2.0 is affected by CVE-2023-33480, putting all instances of this version at risk of exploitation by remote attackers.

Exploitation Mechanism

By sending specially crafted requests to the RemoteClinic application, an attacker can create admin users, upload PHP files with malicious code, and execute arbitrary commands using a PHP shell.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard against CVE-2023-33480, immediate actions and long-term security practices are recommended.

Immediate Steps to Take

Immediately disable any unnecessary features or endpoints within RemoteClinic 2.0 and restrict access to critical areas to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement thorough input validation, access controls, and user authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized actions and enhance the overall security posture of the application.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update RemoteClinic 2.0 to ensure that the latest security patches are applied to address known vulnerabilities and enhance the security resilience of the system.