CVE-2023-4043 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE, assigned by Eclipse, was published on November 3, 2023. It affects Eclipse Parsson versions prior to 1.1.4 and 1.0.5, with a medium severity rating.

Understanding CVE-2023-4043

This CVE addresses a vulnerability in Eclipse Parsson related to parsing JSON from untrusted sources, which can potentially lead to denial of service (DoS) attacks.

What is CVE-2023-4043?

The vulnerability in Eclipse Parsson arises when parsing numbers from untrusted sources. Malicious actors can exploit the fact that Java's built-in support for parsing numbers with large scale has edge cases where the input text of a number can significantly increase processing time. To mitigate this risk, Parsson has implemented a size limit for the numbers and their scale.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4043

This vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to cause a denial of service by triggering excessive processing time when parsing JSON numbers from untrusted sources. While the confidentiality and integrity of the system are not directly impacted, the availability is at high risk.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4043

In this section, we will delve into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Eclipse Parsson stems from the improper handling of parsing numbers from untrusted sources, leading to potential DoS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Eclipse Parsson versions prior to 1.1.4 and 1.0.5 are impacted by this vulnerability. Users of these versions should take immediate action to address the issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

By providing input text of a number with specific edge cases, attackers can exploit the parsing mechanism in Eclipse Parsson to cause a significant increase in processing time, resulting in a DoS condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-4043, users and administrators can take the following steps to mitigate risks and prevent exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Parsson to versions 1.1.4 or 1.0.5, where the vulnerability has been addressed.
Implement input validation mechanisms to sanitize and validate data before parsing.
Monitor for any unusual spikes in processing time when handling JSON inputs.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software components and libraries to ensure they are patched against known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security training for developers on secure coding practices, including input validation and sanitization.
Perform regular security assessments and audits to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Users are advised to apply the latest patches released by Eclipse for Parsson to address the vulnerability. Stay informed about security updates and best practices to protect your system from potential exploits.

By following these recommendations and staying vigilant about security best practices, organizations can enhance their resilience against CVE-2023-4043 and similar vulnerabilities.