CVE-2023-37896 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2023-37896 impacting Nuclei versions prior to 2.9.9. Understand the vulnerability, its impact, and steps to mitigate this path traversal issue.
This article provides detailed information about the Nuclei Path Traversal vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-37896.
Understanding CVE-2023-20657
The CVE-2023-37896 vulnerability in Nuclei affects versions prior to 2.9.9, impacting users utilizing Nuclei as a Go code (SDK) running custom templates.
What is CVE-2023-37896?
Nuclei, a vulnerability scanner, had a security issue related to sanitization problems with payload loading in sandbox mode, allowing arbitrary files to be read on the filesystem in specific scenarios. This issue was due to relative paths not being converted to absolute paths, affecting users of the Go SDK implementation.
The Impact of CVE-2023-37896
The vulnerability could potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information stored on the system, compromising data confidentiality.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-20657
This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
Prior to version 2.9.9, Nuclei had a flaw that allowed unauthorized file access when loading payloads in sandbox mode, affecting users of the Go SDK.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability impacts Nuclei versions below 2.9.9 used with custom templates in the Go SDK environment.
Exploitation Mechanism
By exploiting the path traversal issue, threat actors could access files on the system that should have been restricted, potentially leading to data breaches.
Mitigation and Prevention
Here are the necessary steps to address and prevent the CVE-2023-37896 vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are strongly advised to update Nuclei to version 2.9.9 or later to mitigate the security issue. Additionally, consider enabling sandbox mode by default for enhanced security.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly monitor for security updates and patches from Nuclei maintainers. Implement secure coding practices when developing custom templates to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Ensure all Nuclei installations are running on version 2.9.9 or higher to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.