CVE-2023-26513 in Sling Resource Merger
Summary
by MITRE • 03/20/2023
Excessive Iteration vulnerability in Apache Software Foundation Apache Sling Resource Merger.This issue affects Apache Sling Resource Merger: from 1.2.0 before 1.4.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2023
The CVE-2023-26513 vulnerability represents a critical excessive iteration flaw within the Apache Sling Resource Merger component, which forms part of the broader Apache Sling framework ecosystem. This vulnerability specifically impacts versions ranging from 1.2.0 through 1.4.1, creating a significant security risk for organizations utilizing Apache Sling for their web content management and resource handling operations. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and iterative processing controls within the resource merger functionality, potentially allowing malicious actors to exploit iterative loops that could consume excessive system resources or cause denial of service conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through improper handling of resource merging operations where the system fails to establish adequate iteration limits or bounds checks during resource traversal and processing. When an attacker crafts malicious resource requests or provides malformed input parameters, the merger component enters into excessive iterative processing cycles that can rapidly consume CPU cycles and memory resources. This flaw operates at the core of how Apache Sling processes and merges resource definitions, particularly affecting scenarios where multiple resource sources are being aggregated or where complex resource hierarchies are being resolved. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-835, which specifically addresses the issue of infinite or excessively long loops without proper termination conditions, making it a direct implementation of loop termination weaknesses within the software architecture.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for Apache Sling deployments as it can lead to complete service disruption through resource exhaustion attacks. Attackers can exploit this flaw by submitting carefully crafted resource requests that trigger the excessive iteration behavior, potentially causing system crashes, application hangs, or denial of service conditions that affect legitimate users. The impact extends beyond simple service availability issues as the vulnerability can also potentially allow for information disclosure through extended processing times that may reveal system characteristics or resource states. Organizations running Apache Sling applications without proper mitigation measures face significant risk of operational disruption, especially in high-traffic environments where resource constraints are already tight.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2023-26513 requires immediate application of the patched versions from Apache Sling Resource Merger 1.4.2 onwards, which implement proper iteration bounds checking and resource limiting mechanisms. System administrators should also implement additional protective measures including rate limiting on resource requests, monitoring for unusual processing patterns, and implementing resource quotas to prevent single requests from consuming excessive system resources. Network-level protections such as API gateways or web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense by detecting and blocking suspicious iterative request patterns. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any custom implementations or extensions that may be vulnerable to similar iteration issues, as this type of flaw can manifest in various forms throughout the application stack. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce compatibility issues with existing resource merging operations while maintaining the security hardening measures that address the core iteration vulnerability.