CVE-2023-36819 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A detailed overview of CVE-2023-36819 affecting Knowage-Server.

Understanding CVE-2023-36819

This CVE involves a path traversal vulnerability in the download functionalities of Knowage-Server.

What is CVE-2023-36819?

Knowage-Server, an open-source suite for modern business analytics, is vulnerable to a path traversal exploit that allows an attacker to download files from the system by manipulating the

_templateName_

parameter.

The Impact of CVE-2023-36819

The vulnerability, present in versions prior to 8.1.8, enables a low-privileged attacker to access sensitive configuration files hosted on the server.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-36819

A deeper dive into the vulnerability in Knowage-Server.

Vulnerability Description

The endpoint

_knowage/restful-services/dossier/importTemplateFile_

fails to sanitize the

_templateName_

parameter, facilitating path traversal attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: KnowageLabs
Product: Knowage-Server
Affected Versions: < 8.1.8

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit the vulnerability by injecting

*../*

in the

_templateName_

parameter to escape directories and access files outside the intended scope.

Mitigation and Prevention

Best practices to prevent and address CVE-2023-36819.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to Knowage version 8.1.8 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Restrict access to the affected endpoint to trusted users.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and apply security patches provided by KnowageLabs.
Conduct security audits to identify and address any similar vulnerabilities in the system.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from KnowageLabs to protect your system from potential threats.