CVE-2023-34042 in Spring Security
Summary
by MITRE • 02/06/2024
The spring-security.xsd file inside the spring-security-config jar is world writable which means that if it were extracted it could be written by anyone with access to the file system.
While there are no known exploits, this is an example of “CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource” and could result in an exploit. Users should update to the latest version of Spring Security to mitigate any future exploits found around this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-34042 represents a critical permission misconfiguration within the spring-security-config jar package that exposes the spring-security.xsd file to unauthorized modifications. This issue falls under the category of CWE-732, Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, which specifically addresses scenarios where critical system resources are assigned improper access permissions. The spring-security.xsd file serves as a crucial configuration schema that defines the structure and validation rules for spring security configurations, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to manipulate security settings. When a file is world-writable, any user with file system access can modify its contents, creating a fundamental breach in the security model that could potentially allow malicious actors to inject harmful configurations or disable security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file modification capabilities, as it creates a potential attack surface that could be leveraged in conjunction with other exploitation techniques. According to ATT&CK framework methodology, this vulnerability aligns with T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1546 - Event Triggered Execution, as attackers could potentially use the compromised schema file to execute malicious code or modify security policies that govern application access controls. The risk escalates when considering that spring security configurations often control authentication, authorization, and session management aspects that are fundamental to application security. An attacker who gains write access to this schema file could potentially alter security rules, weaken authentication mechanisms, or introduce backdoors that persist across application restarts.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2023-34042 centers on immediate remediation through software updates, as recommended by the vendor. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to the latest version of Spring Security that addresses this permission issue, ensuring that the spring-security.xsd file is properly secured with appropriate access controls. System administrators must conduct comprehensive audits of all spring-security-config installations to verify that no other critical files within the package maintain world-writable permissions. Additionally, implementing proper file system access controls through mandatory access controls, regular permission reviews, and privilege segregation practices will help prevent similar issues from occurring in other components of the security infrastructure. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of supply chain security considerations, as third-party libraries with improper permissions can create persistent security risks that may not be immediately apparent but could be exploited over time.