CVE-2023-42508 in Artifactory
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
JFrog Artifactory prior to version 7.66.0 is vulnerable to specific endpoint abuse with a specially crafted payload, which can lead to unauthenticated users being able to send emails with manipulated email body.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2023
JFrog Artifactory versions prior to 7.66.0 contain a critical vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit a specific endpoint for sending manipulated email notifications. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the email sending functionality of the platform. The flaw enables malicious actors to craft specially formatted payloads that bypass authentication requirements and manipulate the content of email messages being dispatched through the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of an endpoint that handles email notifications without proper authentication checks. When an attacker sends a crafted payload to the vulnerable endpoint, the system processes the request without verifying the sender's credentials, allowing arbitrary email content to be generated and transmitted. This represents a significant breakdown in the application's security model where the email service component fails to enforce proper authorization controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple email manipulation as it can be leveraged for various malicious activities including phishing attacks, social engineering campaigns, and information disclosure. An attacker could potentially craft convincing email messages that appear to originate from legitimate system administrators or security alerts, leading to unauthorized access attempts or data compromise. The vulnerability affects the integrity and authenticity of email communications within the Artifactory environment, undermining trust in system-generated notifications.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566 for phishing campaigns. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor for attackers to send unauthorized communications through the system, potentially leading to further exploitation opportunities. Organizations relying on Artifactory for package management and artifact storage face increased risk of credential theft, unauthorized access to sensitive repositories, and potential compromise of their software supply chain integrity.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to JFrog Artifactory version 7.66.0 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper authentication enforcement and input validation controls. Administrators should also implement network-level restrictions to limit access to email endpoints and monitor for unusual email sending patterns. Additional defensive measures include configuring proper access controls for email services, implementing email content filtering, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities in the system's attack surface.