CVE-2023-45803 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2023-45803, a vulnerability in urllib3 exposing sensitive data due to request body not being stripped during HTTP redirects. Find mitigation strategies here.
This article discusses CVE-2023-45803, a vulnerability in urllib3 that exposes sensitive information due to the request body not being stripped after a redirect.
Understanding CVE-2023-45803
This section explores the details of the CVE-2023-45803 vulnerability in urllib3.
What is CVE-2023-45803?
CVE-2023-45803 is a vulnerability in urllib3, a user-friendly HTTP client library for Python. It stems from the library not removing the HTTP request body after an HTTP redirect response, potentially exposing sensitive information to unauthorized actors.
The Impact of CVE-2023-45803
The vulnerability has a medium severity base score of 4.2. It can lead to the exposure of sensitive information, especially if the origin service is compromised and starts redirecting to a malicious peer. However, the exploitability is deemed low if sensitive data is not included in the HTTP request body.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-45803
This section delves into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-45803.
Vulnerability Description
urllib3 fails to strip the HTTP request body during redirects, contrary to expected behavior outlined in HTTP RFCs. This can potentially expose sensitive data to unauthorized actors.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability affects urllib3 versions >= 2.0.0 and < 2.0.7, as well as versions < 1.26.18. Users of these versions are at risk of data exposure.
Exploitation Mechanism
Exploiting this vulnerability requires a trusted service to be compromised and initiate HTTP redirects with status codes 301, 302, or 303, leading to potential data exposure.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section provides guidance on mitigating and preventing the CVE-2023-45803 vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to update urllib3 to versions 1.26.18 or 2.0.7 to address the vulnerability. Alternatively, disabling redirects and handling redirects manually can reduce the risk.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implementing strict data handling policies, avoiding sensitive data in HTTP request bodies, and regularly updating dependencies can enhance overall security posture.
Patching and Updates
Regularly checking for security advisories and promptly applying patches and updates can help protect against known vulnerabilities.