CVE-2023-33197 in Craft
Summary
by MITRE • 05/26/2023
Craft is a CMS for creating custom digital experiences on the web. Cross-site scripting (XSS) can be triggered via the Update Asset Index utility. This issue has been patched in version 4.4.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-33197 affects Craft CMS, a popular content management system designed for creating custom digital experiences on the web. This particular flaw represents a cross-site scripting vulnerability that specifically manifests through the Update Asset Index utility within the CMS framework. The issue demonstrates how seemingly routine administrative functions can become entry points for malicious actors seeking to exploit web applications. Craft CMS serves numerous organizations and websites that rely on its functionality for content management, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective as it could potentially impact a wide range of users and deployments.
The technical flaw resides in the improper handling of user input within the Update Asset Index utility, which allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. This XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of input parameters passed to the utility function. When an authenticated user interacts with the asset index update functionality, the application fails to adequately sanitize or escape user-supplied data before rendering it back to the browser. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, where the system fails to validate or escape user-controllable input. The attack vector requires an authenticated user context, meaning that an attacker would need to have valid credentials to the Craft CMS instance to exploit this vulnerability effectively.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation within the CMS environment. An attacker could potentially steal administrator credentials, modify content, or even gain full control over the website if the vulnerability is exploited in combination with other techniques. The severity is particularly pronounced because the Update Asset Index utility is likely a commonly used administrative function, making the attack surface more accessible. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering methods that can lead to initial access, though in this case the access is gained through legitimate administrative functions rather than social manipulation.
Organizations using Craft CMS must prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to version 4.4.6 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this XSS vulnerability. The patch likely implements proper input validation, output encoding, and sanitization measures for all user-supplied data within the affected utility. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their Craft CMS deployments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all users have been updated to the patched version. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring for unusual activities within the asset management functions can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regularly updating content management systems and maintaining current security practices, as even routine administrative utilities can contain security flaws that require careful attention and prompt remediation.