CVE-2023-5920 : What You Need to Know

This CVE-2023-5920 was assigned by Mattermost and published on November 2, 2023. It involves the lack of secure keyboard entry protection in Mattermost Desktop for MacOS, allowing other processes to read keyboard input.

Understanding CVE-2023-5920

This section delves into the details of CVE-2023-5920, explaining the vulnerability, impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-5920?

CVE-2023-5920 highlights a critical vulnerability in Mattermost Desktop for MacOS, where the application fails to utilize the secure keyboard input functionality provided by macOS. This oversight enables potential threat actors or processes to intercept and read sensitive keyboard inputs, leading to a security breach.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5920

The impact of this vulnerability could result in the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors, potentially compromising user data confidentiality and privacy. The CVSSv3.1 base score for this vulnerability is rated at 2.9, with a low severity level.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5920

This section provides a closer look at the technical aspects of CVE-2023-5920, including vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the failure of Mattermost Desktop for MacOS to utilize secure keyboard input features, allowing unintended processes to access and read keyboard inputs, posing a risk to data security and privacy.

Affected Systems and Versions

Mattermost Desktop version 5.5.0 and below on MacOS are affected by this vulnerability. However, version 5.5.1 and higher are considered unaffected, addressing the security issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of this vulnerability involves malicious processes or threat actors intercepting and reading sensitive keyboard inputs within Mattermost Desktop for MacOS, potentially leading to unauthorized access to confidential information.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2023-5920, it is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the security risk, implement long-term security practices, and apply necessary patches and updates to safeguard systems and data.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users of Mattermost Desktop for MacOS should update their application to versions 5.5.1 or higher to address the vulnerability and ensure secure keyboard input protection. Additionally, users should exercise caution when entering sensitive information until the update is applied.

Long-Term Security Practices

To enhance overall security posture, users are advised to follow best practices such as maintaining updated software, using strong authentication methods, and being cautious of potential security risks when working with sensitive information.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying software patches and updates, especially security fixes provided by the vendor, is crucial for addressing known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-5920. By staying vigilant and proactive in updating systems, users can minimize the risk of security breaches and data exposure.