CVE-2023-4801 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-4801 concerns an improper certification validation vulnerability in the Insider Threat Management (ITM) Agent for MacOS, potentially allowing an anonymous actor on an adjacent network to establish a man-in-the-middle position between the agent and the ITM server after registration.

Understanding CVE-2023-4801

This section dives into the details of CVE-2023-4801, outlining the vulnerability's impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-4801?

The vulnerability in the ITM Agent for MacOS enables an attacker on an adjoining network to create a man-in-the-middle scenario post-agent registration. Notably, versions prior to 7.14.3.69 are affected by this security flaw, while Agents for Windows, Linux, and Cloud remain unaffected.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4801

The CVSS V3.1 base score of 7.5 indicates a high severity level. The attack complexity is categorized as HIGH, with an attack vector of ADJACENT_NETWORK. The confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all marked as HIGH, with no privileges required for exploitation. User interaction is not necessary, and the scope remains unchanged.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4801

In this section, we delve into the technical specifics of CVE-2023-4801, such as the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from improper certification validation in the ITM Agent for MacOS, allowing an unauthorized entity to intercept communications between the agent and the ITM server.

Affected Systems and Versions

All versions of the ITM Agent for MacOS preceding 7.14.3.69 are impacted by this vulnerability. However, Agents for Windows, Linux, and Cloud are not affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker situated on the same network as the ITM Agent for MacOS can exploit this vulnerability to conduct a man-in-the-middle attack, compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the necessary steps to address the CVE-2023-4801 vulnerability, including immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2023-4801, users should update the ITM Agent for MacOS to version 7.14.3.69 or higher as soon as possible. Implementing network segmentation and encryption can also enhance security.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, organizations should regularly update their software and security solutions, conduct thorough vulnerability assessments, and provide continuous security training to employees to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Proofpoint has released a patch to address the CVE-2023-4801 vulnerability in the ITM Agent for MacOS. Users are advised to apply this patch promptly to safeguard their systems and data from potential exploitation.