CVE-2023-51697 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Audiobookshelf is a self-hosted audiobook and podcast server that was found to be vulnerable to Blind SSRF in

podcastUtils.js

prior to version 2.7.0. This vulnerability has a base severity of MEDIUM and a CVSS score of 4.3.

Understanding CVE-2023-51697

This section will cover the details of the CVE-2023-51697 vulnerability in Audiobookshelf software.

What is CVE-2023-51697?

Audiobookshelf is susceptible to an unauthenticated blind server-side request forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in the

podcastUtils.js

file. The issue was identified in versions before 2.7.0, allowing an attacker to exploit this flaw.

The Impact of CVE-2023-51697

This vulnerability could potentially be exploited by malicious actors to send crafted requests from the server, leading to unauthorized access to internal systems, data exfiltration, or denial of service attacks.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-51697

In this section, we will delve into the technical aspects of the CVE-2023-51697 vulnerability in Audiobookshelf.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from insufficient validation of user-supplied input in the

podcastUtils.js

file, enabling an attacker to manipulate URL requests and interact with internal resources.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected system is the Audiobookshelf software versions prior to 2.7.0. Users with versions below this are at risk of exploitation unless they update to the patched version.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting the SSRF vulnerability in

podcastUtils.js

involves sending crafted requests to the vulnerable server, allowing unauthorized interaction with internal systems or services.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-51697, immediate actions must be taken to secure affected Audiobookshelf installations.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Audiobookshelf to version 2.7.0 or later to apply the necessary security patches and protect the system from SSRF attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement proper input validation and output encoding in web applications to prevent SSRF vulnerabilities and other similar exploits.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply software updates and patches to address known vulnerabilities like the one in Audiobookshelf prior to version 2.7.0.