CVE-2023-5160 : What You Need to Know

This CVE record was assigned by Mattermost and published on October 2, 2023. It involves a vulnerability in Mattermost that allows a member to view the full name of another user even if the "Show Full Name" option is disabled.

Understanding CVE-2023-5160

This section delves into the details of CVE-2023-5160, highlighting the vulnerability's impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-5160?

CVE-2023-5160 pertains to a flaw in Mattermost's handling of the "Show Full Name" option at the /api/v4/teams/TEAM_ID/top/team_members endpoint. This oversight enables a user to access the full name of another user despite the "Show Full Name" setting being turned off.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5160

The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, as an attacker could retrieve the full names of users who have opted to conceal this information. This loophole poses a risk to user privacy and confidentiality within the Mattermost platform.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5160

This section provides a deeper insight into the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

Mattermost fails to validate the "Show Full Name" option effectively at the designated API endpoint, thereby allowing users to bypass this control and access the full names of others, irrespective of the privacy setting.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Mattermost versions up to 8.1.0, while versions 7.8.10 and 8.1.1 have been released to address this issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability requires a malicious user to send a crafted request to the /api/v4/teams/TEAM_ID/top/team_members endpoint, leveraging the oversight in the validation logic to retrieve sensitive user data.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2023-5160, users are advised to take immediate actions, adopt long-term security practices, and implement necessary patches and updates to safeguard their systems against potential exploits.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Mattermost Server to versions 7.8.10, 8.1.1, or newer to mitigate the vulnerability effectively.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and enhance access controls and permissions within the Mattermost platform to prevent unauthorized information disclosure incidents.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Mattermost to address vulnerabilities promptly and maintain a secure operating environment.