CVE-2023-51652 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-51652, a vulnerability in OWASP AntiSamy .NET library that could lead to mutation cross-site scripting (mXSS) attacks.

Understanding CVE-2023-51652

In this section, we will delve into what CVE-2023-51652 is and its impact, along with technical details and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-51652?

CVE-2023-51652 is a vulnerability in the OWASP AntiSamy .NET library, allowing for mutation cross-site scripting attacks due to flawed HTML parsing.

The Impact of CVE-2023-51652

The vulnerability could lead to malicious code execution by interpreting elements in comment tags as executable, affecting systems using AntiSamy versions prior to 1.2.0.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-51652

This section provides technical insights into the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation mechanisms.

Vulnerability Description

OWASP AntiSamy .NET 1.2.0 and earlier versions are susceptible to mutation cross-site scripting attacks due to flawed HTML parsing when the

preserveComments

directive is enabled in the policy file.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects AntiSamy .NET versions prior to 1.2.0, specifically those with the

preserveComments

directive enabled

Exploitation Mechanism

Crafty inputs can be used to exploit the vulnerability by leveraging the flawed parsing of HTML, causing comment tags to be interpreted as executable.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the steps to mitigate the CVE-2023-51652 vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Edit the AntiSamy policy file to disable the

preserveComments

directive or set it to

false

. Additionally, follow the recommended workaround detailed in the GitHub Security Advisory.

Long-Term Security Practices

To address the root cause of the vulnerability, it is strongly recommended to upgrade to the fixed version of AntiSamy (1.2.0 and later) to ensure comprehensive security.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update the AntiSamy .NET library to the latest patched version to mitigate the risks associated with mutation cross-site scripting attacks.