CVE-2023-42629 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability has been identified in Liferay Portal 7.4.2 through 7.4.3.87 and Liferay DXP 7.4, potentially allowing remote attackers to inject malicious scripts or HTML code.

Understanding CVE-2023-42629

This CVE involves a serious XSS vulnerability in Liferay Portal and DXP versions, posing a critical risk to affected systems.

What is CVE-2023-42629?

The vulnerability resides in the manage vocabulary page, enabling attackers to exploit the 'description' text field with crafted payloads to execute arbitrary scripts or HTML.

The Impact of CVE-2023-42629

With a CVSS base score of 9 and a critical severity level, this vulnerability could lead to remote code execution, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-42629

This section provides insights into the vulnerability description, affected systems, versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The XSS flaw allows remote attackers to insert malicious code via the 'description' text field, potentially leading to unauthorized access or data manipulation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Liferay Portal versions 7.4.2 through 7.4.3.87 and Liferay DXP 7.4 are affected, with specific details outlined in the JSON data.

Exploitation Mechanism

By injecting a specially crafted payload into the 'description' field of a Vocabulary, attackers can execute arbitrary scripts or HTML within the context of the target system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting your systems from CVE-2023-42629 involves immediate actions and long-term security practices to ensure comprehensive defense.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply vendor-provided patches or updates promptly to address the vulnerability.
Implement robust input validation mechanisms to mitigate XSS risks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor security advisories from Liferay and other sources to stay informed about potential threats.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Refer to the official Liferay security advisory and related third-party resources for detailed information on patches and updates.