CVE-2023-49096 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2023-49096, assigned by GitHub_M, involves Argument Injection in FFmpeg codec parameters in Jellyfin.

Understanding CVE-2023-49096

This CVE describes an argument injection vulnerability in Jellyfin, a Free Software Media System for managing and streaming media.

What is CVE-2023-49096?

In Jellyfin versions below 10.8.13, there is an argument injection in the VideosController and AudioController endpoints, allowing unauthenticated attackers to exploit the vulnerability. The attacker needs to guess a random GUID (itemId) to potentially exploit the issue.

The Impact of CVE-2023-49096

The vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious arguments into FFmpeg commands, potentially leading to arbitrary file overwriting. Although difficult to exploit without additional information, an upgrade to version 10.8.13 is recommended for mitigation.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-49096

The vulnerability in Jellyfin is due to improper neutralization of argument delimiters in commands, leading to a high severity (CVSS base score of 7.7).

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerable endpoints accept query parameters susceptible to argument injection, affecting videoCodec and audioCodec values. This could potentially allow overwriting arbitrary files with malicious content.

Affected Systems and Versions

Jellyfin versions prior to 10.8.13 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit the vulnerability by injecting arguments into FFmpeg commands, potentially leading to unauthorized file overwriting.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-49096, users are strongly advised to update Jellyfin to version 10.8.13 to prevent exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to Jellyfin version 10.8.13 to mitigate the vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and follow best practices to ensure the security of media streaming systems.

Patching and Updates

Install the latest patches and updates provided by Jellyfin to maintain a secure environment.