CVE-2023-4061 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-4061 pertains to a vulnerability in Wildfly-core that allows management users to exploit rbac permissions, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Understanding CVE-2023-4061

This vulnerability in Wildfly-core can enable a management user to leverage the resolve-expression in the HAL Interface to access potentially sensitive data from the Wildfly system. This flaw could be exploited by a malicious actor to obtain confidential information from the system.

What is CVE-2023-4061?

The CVE-2023-4061 vulnerability involves a flaw in Wildfly-core that allows a management user to read system properties and potentially access sensitive information without proper authorization.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4061

The impact of CVE-2023-4061 could result in unauthorized access to critical information stored within the Wildfly system, posing a risk to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4061

This vulnerability has been rated as moderate in severity by Red Hat, with a CVSS base score of 6.5. The attack vector is network-based, and the integrity impact is considered high.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Wildfly-core allows a management user to use the resolve-expression in the HAL Interface to read sensitive information from the system, potentially leading to unauthorized access.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Wildfly-core

Version: 15.0.30.Final (unaffected)

Red Hat EAP 7.4.13

Version: EAP 7.4.13 (unaffected)

Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7.4 for RHEL 8

Versions: EAP7-wildfly, EAP7-wildfly-elytron
Versions Affected: 7.4.13-8.GA_redhat_00001.1.el8eap, 1.15.20-1.Final_redhat_00001.1.el8eap

Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7.4 for RHEL 9

Versions: EAP7-wildfly, EAP7-wildfly-elytron
Versions Affected: 7.4.13-8.GA_redhat_00001.1.el9eap, 1.15.20-1.Final_redhat_00001.1.el9eap

Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 7.4 on RHEL 7

Versions: EAP7-wildfly, EAP7-wildfly-elytron
Versions Affected: 7.4.13-8.GA_redhat_00001.1.el7eap, 1.15.20-1.Final_redhat_00001.1.el7eap

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a management user using the resolve-expression in the HAL Interface to access sensitive information from the Wildfly system.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is essential to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-4061, as well as implement long-term security practices to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Immediate Steps to Take

Wildfly administrators are advised to utilize Vault, particularly the Elytron subsystem, to securely store critical information such as DNS records, IPs, and credentials to mitigate the vulnerability effectively.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust access control measures, regularly reviewing and updating system permissions, and conducting security assessments can enhance the overall security posture and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all affected systems and versions are updated with the latest patches and security updates provided by Red Hat to address the vulnerability effectively and mitigate potential risks.