CVE-2023-50262 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2023-50262, a DoS vulnerability in Dompdf PHP library due to infinite recursion in SVG image parsing. Find out impact, affected versions, and mitigation steps.
Dompdf is an HTML to PDF converter for PHP that experienced a possible Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability due to infinite recursion when parsing SVG images.
Understanding CVE-2023-50262
This CVE involves a vulnerability in the Dompdf library that could allow an attacker to trigger infinite recursion when processing SVG images, potentially leading to a Denial of Service condition.
What is CVE-2023-50262?
Dompdf, prior to version 2.0.4, had a flaw where recursive chaining of SVG documents was not correctly validated, allowing an attacker to exhaust server memory by triggering infinite recursion.
The Impact of CVE-2023-50262
An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could crash the Dompdf process by causing memory exhaustion, resulting in a DoS condition. Multiple requests could potentially overwhelm a system, rendering it unable to handle incoming requests.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-50262
This section covers the specifics of the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
Dompdf did not properly validate recursive chaining of SVG documents, allowing an attacker to trigger infinite recursion and potentially crash the process, leading to a DoS condition.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability affects versions of Dompdf prior to 2.0.4.
Exploitation Mechanism
By chaining references between two or more SVG images, an attacker could exploit the flawed validation in Dompdf, causing infinite recursion and subsequent resource exhaustion.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2023-50262 and prevent exploitation, consider the following steps:
Immediate Steps to Take
Upgrade Dompdf to version 2.0.4 or later to apply the fix for this vulnerability. Monitor system resources for signs of unusual activity that may indicate a DoS attack.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future. Regularly update libraries and components to mitigate potential security risks.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security advisories and patches related to Dompdf. Promptly apply updates and patches provided by the project to ensure the security of your application.