CVE-2023-36828 in Statamic
Summary
by MITRE • 07/06/2023
Statamic is a flat-first, Laravel and Git powered content management system. Prior to version 4.10.0, the SVG tag does not sanitize malicious SVG. Therefore, an attacker can exploit this vulnerability to perform cross-site scripting attacks using SVG, even when using the `sanitize` function. Version 4.10.0 contains a patch for this issue.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-36828 affects Statamic content management systems, specifically targeting versions prior to 4.10.0. This issue resides within the SVG tag processing functionality where the system fails to properly sanitize potentially malicious SVG content. Statamic operates as a flat-first CMS built on Laravel and Git technologies, making it a popular choice for developers seeking flexible content management solutions. The vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the platform's security posture and exposes users to significant risks.
The technical flaw manifests in the SVG tag implementation where the sanitization mechanism proves insufficient against malicious SVG payloads. This weakness allows attackers to inject harmful code through SVG files that bypass the existing security measures. The vulnerability specifically targets the sanitize function which is supposed to neutralize dangerous elements within SVG content but fails to properly handle certain malicious constructs. The flaw enables attackers to execute cross-site scripting attacks through SVG files, exploiting the trust relationship between the CMS and its users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and represents a classic case of inadequate input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS attacks to potentially compromise entire user sessions and sensitive data. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser, potentially stealing session cookies, credentials, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects SVG processing even when sanitization functions are explicitly called, indicating a fundamental flaw in the sanitization logic rather than a simple configuration issue. This allows attackers to bypass security controls that should normally prevent such attacks, making the vulnerability particularly severe in environments where SVG content is frequently processed or uploaded by users.
Organizations using Statamic versions prior to 4.10.0 should immediately implement the patch released in version 4.10.0 to address this vulnerability. The patch likely includes enhanced SVG sanitization routines that properly handle potentially malicious content and prevent the execution of embedded scripts. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring for SVG file uploads and processing activities within their Statamic installations. Organizations should review their existing security controls and ensure that all SVG content is properly validated and sanitized regardless of the CMS version being used. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive security testing and validation of sanitization functions, particularly when dealing with rich media formats that can contain executable content. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers phishing with malicious attachments, as SVG files could be used to deliver malicious payloads through social engineering campaigns.