CVE-2023-6458 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-6458 was published by Mattermost on December 6, 2023. It involves a vulnerability in the Mattermost web application that allows an attacker to perform a client-side path traversal due to the lack of route parameters validation.

Understanding CVE-2023-20657

This section will dive deeper into the details of the CVE-2023-6458 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2023-6458?

The CVE-2023-6458 vulnerability is centered around the failure of the Mattermost web application to validate route parameters in /<TEAM_NAME>/channels/<CHANNEL_NAME>, which ultimately enables an attacker to conduct a client-side path traversal.

The Impact of CVE-2023-6458

The vulnerability has a high severity level with a CVSSv3.1 base score of 7.1, making it critical. The attack complexity is high, with an attack vector of network and privileges required being low. It can lead to compromised confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-6458

This section provides a technical overview of the CVE-2023-6458 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the failure of the Mattermost web application to properly validate route parameters, allowing threat actors to execute a client-side path traversal attack.

Affected Systems and Versions

The versions affected by this vulnerability include Mattermost versions 9.1.1 and below, 9.0.2 and below, 8.1.4 and below, and 7.8.13 and below.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting the lack of route parameters validation, attackers can manipulate the path traversal to access unauthorized directories and files on the server, potentially leading to further exploitation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Taking immediate steps and implementing long-term security practices can mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2023-6458.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their Mattermost Server to versions 9.1.2, 9.0.3, 8.1.5, 7.8.14, or higher to address the vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regular security audits, penetration testing, and ensuring robust coding practices can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Staying up-to-date with security patches and promptly applying updates provided by Mattermost is crucial in maintaining a secure environment and safeguarding against potential security threats.