CVE-2023-29045 in OX App Suite
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2023
Documents operations, in this case "drawing", could be manipulated to contain invalid data types, possibly script code. Script code could be injected to an operation that would be executed for users that are actively collaborating on the same document. Operation data exchanged between collaborating parties does now gets checked for validity to avoid code execution. No publicly available exploits are known.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in collaborative document editing systems where real-time operations are transmitted between users. The issue stems from insufficient validation of operation data types during document manipulation processes, specifically affecting drawing operations within collaborative environments. The weakness allows malicious actors to inject script code into operation data structures that are subsequently executed by other collaborating users. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-74 category of Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component, commonly known as injection flaws. The vulnerability specifically impacts the integrity of collaborative sessions where multiple users work simultaneously on shared documents, creating a potential attack surface for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when operation data flows through the collaborative system without proper sanitization or validation of data types. When users perform drawing operations, the system should validate that all operation parameters contain legitimate data types and reject any suspicious or malformed inputs. However, the current implementation fails to perform these checks, allowing potentially malicious script code to be embedded within operation data structures. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in collaborative environments because the injected code executes automatically when other users view or interact with the modified document, creating a chain reaction of code execution across all participants in the collaboration session. This represents a classic case of a client-side code execution vulnerability that can be leveraged for data theft, session hijacking, or further network compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or display issues, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of collaborative document systems. Users who are actively collaborating on shared documents become unwitting participants in code execution attacks, potentially leading to complete system compromise if the injected scripts have elevated privileges or can access system resources. The vulnerability affects all users within a collaborative session who have access to the compromised document, creating a wide attack surface that can be exploited by anyone with write access to the document. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to execute code through collaborative document manipulation and potentially gain initial access through social engineering. The lack of publicly available exploits does not diminish the severity, as the potential for automated exploitation exists given the nature of the vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and sanitization for all operation data within collaborative systems. The system must validate data types and reject any operation data that contains unexpected or potentially malicious content before processing or transmitting it to other users. This includes implementing proper content security policies, sanitizing all user inputs, and employing robust data validation mechanisms that can detect and prevent injection attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect unusual operation data patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security updates and patch management should be prioritized to address similar vulnerabilities in collaborative software components. The implementation of principle of least privilege for document operations and real-time collaboration features can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while also providing better audit trails for security monitoring purposes.