CVE-2023-46121 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability has been identified in yt-dlp, a youtube-dl fork, that allows for Generic Extractor MITM attacks. This article delves into the details of CVE-2023-46121, its impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2023-46121

This section provides an overview of the vulnerability affecting yt-dlp and its implications.

What is CVE-2023-46121?

yt-dlp's Generic Extractor is susceptible to HTTP Request/Response Smuggling, allowing attackers to proxy requests to arbitrary URLs and perform Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks, potentially leading to cookie exfiltration.

The Impact of CVE-2023-46121

The vulnerability in yt-dlp could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of data by enabling malicious actors to intercept and manipulate HTTP requests, posing a risk of sensitive information leakage.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-46121

Explore the technical specifics and affected systems of CVE-2023-46121 below.

Vulnerability Description

Version 2023.11.14 of yt-dlp addressed the flaw by restricting the smuggling of

http_headers

to the Generic extractor and related extractors. Users are urged to update to the latest version to prevent exploitation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Users running yt-dlp versions greater than or equal to 2022.10.04 and less than 2023.11.14 are at risk. Ensuring systems are updated is crucial to mitigate this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The flaw allows attackers to manipulate HTTP requests by setting arbitrary proxies, intercepting data, and potentially exfiltrating cookies. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could compromise data integrity and user privacy.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover the necessary steps to secure systems and prevent exploitation of CVE-2023-46121.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update yt-dlp to version 2023.11.14 or later to eliminate the vulnerability. Alternatively, disabling the Generic Extractor or limiting requests to trusted sites can mitigate the risk.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, regular software updates, and monitoring for security advisories are essential for maintaining robust cybersecurity defenses.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying patches and updates provided by yt-dlp ensures that known vulnerabilities are addressed and system security is maintained.