CVE-2023-28656 in NGINX Management Suite
Summary
by MITRE • 05/03/2023
NGINX Management Suite may allow an authenticated attacker to gain access to configuration objects outside of their assigned environment.
Note: Software versions which have reached End of Technical Support (EoTS) are not evaluated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-28656 affects the NGINX Management Suite, a comprehensive platform for managing nginx-based infrastructure including load balancers, API gateways, and web servers. This security flaw represents a critical access control weakness that undermines the fundamental security model of the management suite. The issue stems from improper authorization checks within the application's configuration management subsystem, where authenticated users can potentially access and manipulate configuration objects that should be restricted to their designated environments. The vulnerability specifically impacts the suite's ability to enforce environment-based access controls, creating a privilege escalation scenario that could allow attackers to bypass intended security boundaries.
This technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper validation when processing requests for configuration objects within the NGINX Management Suite. When an authenticated user makes a request to access or modify configuration data, the system fails to adequately verify whether the user has proper authorization to access the specific environment or configuration object they are targeting. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization within software systems. This weakness allows an attacker to exploit the authentication mechanism by crafting requests that reference configuration objects in different environments, effectively enabling them to traverse the intended security boundaries that separate different customer environments or tenant configurations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential system compromise and data exposure. An authenticated attacker could access sensitive configuration data belonging to other users or environments, potentially gaining insights into network architecture, security policies, and system configurations that could be leveraged for further attacks. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as it allows attackers to use legitimate authentication credentials to access restricted resources. The implications are particularly severe in multi-tenant environments where isolation between customers is paramount for maintaining security boundaries and preventing cross-contamination of sensitive data.
Organizations utilizing the NGINX Management Suite should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor-provided security patches and updates as soon as they become available, as these will contain the necessary fixes to properly enforce authorization checks. Additionally, administrators should review and tighten access controls within their management suite configurations, implementing stricter role-based access controls and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough audits of their configuration management practices to ensure that environment isolation is properly maintained and that all users are properly authenticated and authorized before accessing sensitive configuration objects. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining proper access control mechanisms in management platforms that handle sensitive infrastructure configuration data, as these systems often serve as prime targets for attackers seeking to gain deeper access to network infrastructure.