CVE-2023-34088 : Security Advisory and Response

A stored cross-site scripting vulnerability in the admin interface of Collabora Online has been identified and documented in CVE-2023-34088.

Understanding CVE-2023-34088

Collabora Online is a collaborative online office suite. The vulnerability allows an attacker to execute malicious scripts in the context of the admin console, potentially leading to sensitive information exposure.

What is CVE-2023-34088?

CVE-2023-34088 describes a stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Collabora Online versions prior to 22.05.13, 21.11.9.1, and 6.4.27. By injecting an XSS payload as a document name, an attacker could manipulate the admin interface to execute scripts.

The Impact of CVE-2023-34088

The vulnerability poses a high risk with a CVSS base score of 8.7, impacting confidentiality, integrity, and requiring low privileges. Exploitation could result in the exposure of JSON web tokens used for websocket connections.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-34088

The vulnerability allows an attacker to craft malicious document names containing XSS payloads, taking advantage of the admin console's handling of unescaped HTML. Upgrading to the patched versions is imperative to mitigate the risk.

Vulnerability Description

An attacker can insert an XSS payload as a document name, leading to script execution within the admin console, potentially leaking sensitive tokens.

Affected Systems and Versions

Collabora Online versions coolwsd < 22.05.13, coolwsd < 21.11.9.1, and loolwsd < 6.4.27 are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability leverages improper handling of input during web page generation, allowing an attacker to execute scripts in the admin console context.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-34088, users must upgrade to the fixed versions to prevent potential exploitation and unauthorized access.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to Collabora Online 22.05.13 or later, Collabora Online 21.11.9.1 or later, or Collabora Online 6.4.27 or later as a precautionary measure.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly updating software and applying security patches can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all Collabora Online instances are updated to versions that address the XSS vulnerability.