CVE-2023-3458 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE record pertains to a critical vulnerability found in SourceCodester Shopping Website version 1.0 that allows for SQL Injection through the forgot-password.php file. The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS base score of 6.3, indicating a medium severity level.

Understanding CVE-2023-3458

This section delves deeper into the details of CVE-2023-3458, highlighting its nature, impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-3458?

The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-3458 exists in SourceCodester Shopping Website version 1.0, specifically within the forgot-password.php file. Exploiting the 'contact' argument within this file can lead to SQL Injection, a technique where attackers inject malicious SQL code into input fields to manipulate databases.

The Impact of CVE-2023-3458

This vulnerability poses a significant risk as it allows remote attackers to execute SQL Injection attacks on the affected system. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized data access, data manipulation, and potentially full control over the application and underlying database.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-3458

In this section, we will explore the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism associated with CVE-2023-3458.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in SourceCodester Shopping Website 1.0 arises from inadequate input validation of the 'contact' argument in the forgot-password.php file, enabling attackers to inject and execute arbitrary SQL commands.

Affected Systems and Versions

Only the SourceCodester Shopping Website version 1.0 is impacted by this vulnerability, with the 'contact' argument in the forgot-password.php file being the specific target of exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Remote attackers can exploit CVE-2023-3458 by manipulating the 'contact' argument with malicious SQL statements via the network, allowing them to execute unauthorized SQL queries on the targeted database.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-3458 and enhance the security posture of affected systems, immediate actions, long-term security practices, and the importance of timely patching and updates should be considered.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or restrict access to the forgot-password.php file temporarily.
Implement input validation mechanisms to sanitize user inputs and prevent SQL Injection attacks.
Regularly monitor and review system logs for any suspicious activities related to SQL Injection attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively.
Educate developers and administrators on secure coding practices and the risks associated with insufficient input validation.
Implement secure coding guidelines and frameworks to prevent common web application security weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

SourceCodester should release a security patch addressing the SQL Injection vulnerability in the affected version promptly. Users are advised to apply the patch as soon as it becomes available to mitigate the risk of exploitation.