CVE-2023-1876 in microweber
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2023
Deserialization of Untrusted Data in GitHub repository microweber/microweber prior to 1.3.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2023-1876 represents a critical deserialization flaw in the Microweber content management system prior to version 1.3.3. This issue resides within the GitHub repository microweber/microweber and constitutes a significant security weakness that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of untrusted data during the deserialization process, creating an attack surface where crafted input can be manipulated to perform unauthorized operations.
The technical flaw manifests when the application processes serialized data from external sources without adequate validation or sanitization. This deserialization vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious objects that, when deserialized, execute arbitrary code within the application's context. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-502 which specifically addresses deserialization of untrusted data, a category that has been consistently flagged as a high-risk security concern in software development practices. The flaw enables attackers to leverage the application's serialization mechanisms to bypass normal security controls and gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to complete system compromise and data breaches. Attackers can exploit this weakness to escalate privileges, access sensitive user data, modify content, or establish persistent backdoors within the affected environment. The vulnerability affects all versions prior to 1.3.3, making it particularly concerning for organizations that have not yet upgraded their installations. This type of vulnerability is especially dangerous in web applications where user input is frequently processed and serialized, as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including file uploads, API endpoints, or user profile modifications.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Microweber version 1.3.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this deserialization vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing strict input validation for all serialized data, disabling unnecessary serialization features, and monitoring system logs for suspicious deserialization activities. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection mechanisms to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1210 - Exploitation of Remote Services and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the potential for lateral movement and persistent access once the initial exploitation occurs. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that no other similar deserialization vulnerabilities exist within the application's codebase or its dependencies.