CVE-2023-1094 in MonicaHQ
Summary
by MITRE • 05/08/2023
MonicaHQ version 4.0.0 allows an authenticated remote attacker to execute malicious code in the application via CSTI in the `people:id/food` endpoint and food parameter.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-1094 affects MonicaHQ version 4.0.0 and represents a critical code injection flaw that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary code within the application environment. This vulnerability specifically manifests through a cross-site scripting injection (CSTI) weakness in the people:id/food endpoint, where the food parameter serves as the attack vector. The flaw allows an attacker who has gained legitimate authentication credentials to manipulate the application's behavior by injecting malicious code through the food parameter, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's parameter handling process, creating a pathway for code execution that bypasses normal security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of a server-side parameter injection flaw where the food parameter in the people:id/food endpoint fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input. When an authenticated user submits malicious content through this parameter, the application processes the input without adequate protection measures, allowing attacker-controlled code to be executed within the application context. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-94, which specifically addresses "Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')" and aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. The attack requires only authenticated access, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages legitimate user credentials to bypass traditional perimeter security measures and gain elevated privileges within the application environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-1094 extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive user information. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to gain persistent access to the MonicaHQ application, potentially accessing personal relationship data, user profiles, and other sensitive information stored within the system. The vulnerability's authenticated nature means that attackers need only obtain legitimate user credentials through phishing, credential theft, or other social engineering techniques to exploit the flaw. This creates a significant risk for organizations using MonicaHQ for personal relationship management, as the application may contain highly sensitive personal data including contact information, relationship details, and private communications that could be accessed or manipulated by unauthorized parties.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-1094 should focus on immediate patching of the affected MonicaHQ version 4.0.0 to address the input validation and sanitization issues within the food parameter handling. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that filter and sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, utilizing parameterized queries and proper escaping techniques to prevent code injection attacks. The implementation of web application firewalls and security monitoring systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in the application's codebase. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict access controls and credential management policies, including multi-factor authentication, to limit the potential impact of credential compromise and reduce the attack surface for authenticated exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in preventing code injection attacks and highlights the need for robust security practices in web application development and maintenance.