CVE-2023-42439 in GeoNode
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2023
GeoNode is an open source platform that facilitates the creation, sharing, and collaborative use of geospatial data. A SSRF vulnerability exists starting in version 3.2.0, bypassing existing controls on the software. This can allow a user to request internal services for a full read SSRF, returning any data from the internal network. The application is using a whitelist, but the whitelist can be bypassed. The bypass will trick the application that the first host is a whitelisted address, but the browser will use `@` or `%40` as a credential to the host geoserver on port 8080, this will return the data to that host on the response. As of time of publication, no patched version is available.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42439 represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw within the GeoNode platform, an open-source geospatial data management system that enables organizations to create, share, and collaborate on geographic information. This vulnerability specifically affects GeoNode versions 3.2.0 and later, where the application implements a whitelist-based security control to restrict external requests to known safe endpoints. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to bypass these protective measures and access internal network services that would normally be restricted from external exposure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a fundamental weakness in the application's URL parsing and validation logic. While GeoNode employs a whitelist mechanism to control which external hosts can be accessed, the bypass occurs through the manipulation of URL credentials within the request structure. Attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to target a whitelisted host while simultaneously providing credentials through the URL's authentication component. The specific technique involves using the at symbol @ or its URL-encoded equivalent %40 within the request URL to inject authentication credentials that direct the application's internal requests to target internal services such as the geoserver running on port 8080. This method effectively tricks the application's validation logic into believing the request is legitimate while redirecting the actual network traffic to internal systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially devastating for organizations using GeoNode platforms. A successful exploitation allows attackers to perform a full read server-side request forgery, enabling them to access any data available within the internal network that the GeoNode application can reach. This includes sensitive geospatial data, internal system information, and potentially credentials stored within the geoserver or other internal services. The vulnerability essentially provides an attack path that allows unauthorized access to the entire internal network infrastructure that the GeoNode application can communicate with, potentially exposing critical geographic information systems and related data repositories. Organizations utilizing this platform face significant risk of data breaches, information disclosure, and potential further lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-918, which specifically addresses server-side request forgery vulnerabilities where applications fail to properly validate and sanitize external resource requests. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1566.002 for server-side request forgery and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage. The lack of a patched version at the time of publication creates an urgent security concern for affected organizations, as they must implement immediate workarounds or alternative security controls. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation, deploying additional proxy-based controls, or disabling external resource access until a proper patch is available. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and the potential risks associated with overly complex URL parsing mechanisms that do not adequately validate credential injection attacks. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive network audits to identify any exposed internal services that might be accessible through this attack vector and implement monitoring for suspicious external resource requests.