CVE-2023-38997 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A directory traversal vulnerability in the Captive Portal templates of OPNsense Community Edition before 23.7 and Business Edition before 23.4.2 allows attackers to execute arbitrary system commands as root via a crafted ZIP archive.

Understanding CVE-2023-38997

This CVE identifies a critical directory traversal vulnerability in OPNsense Community and Business Editions, enabling attackers to gain root access through malicious ZIP archive payloads.

What is CVE-2023-38997?

CVE-2023-38997 exposes a flaw in OPNsense's Captive Portal templates, empowering threat actors to run unauthorized system commands with elevated privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2023-38997

The vulnerability poses a significant risk as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands on the affected system, potentially leading to complete system compromise or unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-38997

This section provides insights into the vulnerability specifics, affected systems, and exploitation methods.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw resides in the handling of ZIP archives within the Captive Portal templates, enabling attackers to traverse directories and execute commands as root.

Affected Systems and Versions

OPNsense Community Edition versions prior to 23.7 and Business Edition versions prior to 23.4.2 are susceptible to this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious ZIP archive and uploading it through the Captive Portal, triggering the execution of unauthorized commands.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems against CVE-2023-38997 requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update OPNsense to the latest available version that includes a patch for the directory traversal vulnerability.
Restrict access to the Captive Portal feature to trusted users only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security updates and apply patches promptly.
Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential breaches.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security updates and patches provided by OPNsense to address CVE-2023-38997. Stay informed about new releases and security advisories to enhance system security.