CVE-2023-28652 in EY-AS525F001
Summary
by MITRE • 03/27/2023
An authenticated malicious user could successfully upload a malicious image could lead to a denial-of-service condition.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-28652 represents a critical security flaw in image upload functionality that enables authenticated attackers to exploit a denial-of-service condition through malicious file uploads. This issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the application's file handling processes, particularly when processing image uploads from authenticated users. The vulnerability resides in the application's failure to properly sanitize and validate image file properties, allowing malicious actors to craft specially designed image files that can trigger unexpected behavior in the processing pipeline.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates through a combination of file format parsing inconsistencies and inadequate input validation controls. When an authenticated user uploads an image file, the system processes the file through various internal mechanisms including image decoding, metadata extraction, and format conversion routines. The flaw occurs when these processes encounter malformed or specially crafted image files that contain unexpected data structures or malicious payloads designed to exploit buffer handling or memory management routines within the image processing libraries. This creates an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the system's resource allocation and processing behavior, ultimately leading to service disruption.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-28652 extends beyond simple service interruption to encompass broader system stability and availability concerns. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to consume excessive system resources through memory allocation anomalies, CPU processing cycles, or thread exhaustion during image processing operations. The denial-of-service condition can affect not only the specific image upload functionality but potentially cascade into broader system performance degradation, impacting other services that depend on the same processing infrastructure. Additionally, the authenticated nature of this vulnerability means that attackers need only valid user credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by compromised accounts or insider threats.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-453: Insecure Default Configuration and CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, both of which emphasize the critical importance of robust input sanitization and proper validation controls. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004: Endpoint Denial of Service, which specifically addresses methods of causing service disruption through endpoint vulnerabilities. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that image upload functionality is common across web applications, content management systems, and collaborative platforms where users can contribute media content. Security controls should address this through implementation of strict file type validation, size limitations, and comprehensive image processing sanitization protocols that prevent malicious files from reaching the core processing engine.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-28652 should focus on implementing comprehensive file validation mechanisms that include MIME type verification, file signature checking, and size restrictions. Organizations should deploy strict input sanitization protocols that normalize image file properties and implement resource limits during processing operations to prevent excessive consumption. Additionally, regular updates to image processing libraries and frameworks should be maintained to address known vulnerabilities in underlying components. Network monitoring and anomaly detection systems should be configured to identify unusual processing patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while access controls should be reinforced to minimize the impact of compromised user accounts. The implementation of automated file scanning systems that can detect and quarantine potentially malicious content represents a crucial defensive measure against this class of vulnerability.