CVE-2023-40052 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A denial of service vulnerability has been identified in Progress Application Server (PAS) for OpenEdge, impacting versions 11.7, 12.2, and innovation releases prior to 12.8.0. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability may disrupt web application clients by crashing PASOE agents, potentially causing a flood of invalid requests.

Understanding CVE-2023-40052

This CVE involves a denial of service vulnerability in Progress Application Server (PAS) for OpenEdge, affecting certain versions and posing a threat to web application clients.

What is CVE-2023-40052?

CVE-2023-40052 is a vulnerability in Progress Application Server (PAS) for OpenEdge that allows attackers to exploit malformed web requests, leading to the crashing of PASOE agents and potentially disrupting the activities of web application clients.

The Impact of CVE-2023-40052

The vulnerability can result in a denial of service (DoS) condition where multiple DoS attacks can overwhelm servers with invalid requests, reducing their ability to process legitimate requests.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-40052

The following technical details outline the specifics of the vulnerability, impacted systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability affects PASOE agents in versions 11.7, 12.2, and innovation releases before 12.8.0, allowing attackers to crash these agents with malformed web requests.

Affected Systems and Versions

Progress Application Server (PAS) for OpenEdge versions 11.7 prior to 11.7.18
Progress Application Server (PAS) for OpenEdge versions 12.2 prior to 12.2.13
Progress Application Server (PAS) for OpenEdge innovation releases prior to 12.8.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit this vulnerability by generating malformed web requests that crash PASOE agents, disrupting web application clients' activities.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-40052 and enhance system security, certain steps and practices need to be followed.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Progress Application Server (PAS) for OpenEdge to versions 11.7.18, 12.2.13, or above to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor web requests for any anomalies or signs of DoS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch software to address any known vulnerabilities.
Implement network-level protections to mitigate DoS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely application of security patches and updates to maintain a secure environment and protect against potential threats.