CVE-2023-5562 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE involves an unsafe default configuration in KNIME Analytics Platform before version 5.2.0, which allows for a cross-site scripting attack when used as an executor for either KNIME Server or KNIME Business Hub. There are JavaScript-based view nodes that do not properly sanitize the displayed data by default, potentially leading to the execution of malicious code in the browser.

Understanding CVE-2023-5562

This section will delve into what CVE-2023-5562 entails, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-5562?

The vulnerability in CVE-2023-5562 stems from KNIME Analytics Platform's unsafe default configuration, which enables a cross-site scripting attack vector. Attackers may exploit this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts within the browser, potentially compromising user data and system integrity.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5562

The impact of CVE-2023-5562 is significant, as it allows threat actors to perform operations silently within the browser, exploiting the lack of data sanitization in KNIME Analytics Platform. This vulnerability falls under CAPEC-63, which categorizes it as a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) threat.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5562

This section will cover specific technical details about the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The unsafe default configuration in KNIME Analytics Platform prior to version 5.2.0 enables a cross-site scripting attack by failing to sanitize the displayed data in JavaScript-based view nodes adequately. This oversight allows malicious JavaScript code to execute within the browser.

Affected Systems and Versions

The CVE impacts KNIME Analytics Platform versions prior to 5.2.0 when utilized as the executor for KNIME Server or KNIME Business Hub. Specifically, JavaScript-based view nodes are affected, with version 0 being vulnerable.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the lack of data sanitization in JavaScript-based view nodes, threat actors can inject and execute malicious scripts within the browser, potentially compromising user sessions and performing unauthorized operations.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section will outline steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-5562 and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

To address the vulnerability, users are advised to enable data sanitization for all affected JavaScript-based views by adding

-Djs.core.sanitize.clientHTML=true

to the executor's

knime.ini

. This step enhances security by mitigating the risk of cross-site scripting attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

In the long term, organizations should prioritize security best practices, including regular security assessments, robust configuration management, and employee training to mitigate the risk of XSS vulnerabilities and other security threats.

Patching and Updates

Users should update their KNIME Analytics Platform to version 5.2.0 or later, where sanitization is enabled by default. For earlier versions, implementing the recommended configuration settings in the executor's

knime.ini

is crucial to enhance security and prevent cross-site scripting attacks.