CVE-2022-3232 in rdiffweb
Summary
by MITRE • 09/18/2022
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) in GitHub repository ikus060/rdiffweb prior to 2.4.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3232 represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness discovered in the rdiffweb repository management system developed by ikus060. This flaw exists in versions prior to 2.4.5 and allows malicious actors to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users within the application. The vulnerability stems from the application's insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation in critical endpoints. The affected system operates as a web-based repository management tool that facilitates version control operations and user authentication, making it a prime target for CSRF attacks that could compromise repository integrity and user data.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability manifests through the absence of anti-CSRF tokens in state-changing requests within the application's web interface. When users authenticate to the rdiffweb system, their sessions remain active and authenticated, but the application fails to validate that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same origin. This design flaw allows attackers to craft malicious web pages or exploit existing vulnerabilities in other parts of the application to submit unauthorized requests that leverage the authenticated user's session. The vulnerability specifically affects endpoints that modify repository configurations, user permissions, or perform administrative operations without proper origin validation or token verification mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access scenarios, as it enables attackers to perform actions that could severely compromise repository security and data integrity. An attacker could potentially modify repository settings, delete files, alter user permissions, or even gain administrative control over the system. The risk is particularly elevated because rdiffweb is designed for repository management where such actions could lead to data loss, unauthorized code modifications, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects all authenticated users within the application, making it a significant concern for organizations that rely on the system for version control and collaborative development environments.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of rdiffweb should immediately implement mitigations to address this CSRF vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves implementing robust anti-CSRF token mechanisms across all state-changing requests within the application, ensuring that each request includes a unique, unpredictable token that validates the user's intent. Additionally, implementing proper origin validation checks and utilizing the SameSite cookie attributes can provide additional layers of protection. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the sources from which scripts can be executed, thereby reducing the effectiveness of CSRF attacks. The most effective solution, however, remains upgrading to version 2.4.5 or later, which includes proper CSRF protection mechanisms as outlined in the security patch. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers Phishing for Information through web-based attacks, highlighting the importance of proper web application security controls.
The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that all endpoints properly validate CSRF tokens and that the application correctly handles session management. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other applications and implement consistent security controls across all web-based systems. Organizations should review their web application security practices and ensure that CSRF protection is consistently implemented across all applications, particularly those handling sensitive data or administrative functions. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper security controls from the application development lifecycle, as CSRF protections are often overlooked during initial development phases.