CVE-2023-43795 in gs-wps-core
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
GeoServer is an open source software server written in Java that allows users to share and edit geospatial data. The OGC Web Processing Service (WPS) specification is designed to process information from any server using GET and POST requests. This presents the opportunity for Server Side Request Forgery. This vulnerability has been patched in version 2.22.5 and 2.23.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2023
GeoServer serves as a critical component in geospatial data infrastructure, enabling organizations to share and edit spatial information through standardized web services. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-43795 specifically targets the Open Geospatial Consortium Web Processing Service implementation within GeoServer, which facilitates processing of geospatial information across different server platforms using standard HTTP GET and POST operations. This particular flaw represents a Server Side Request Forgery vulnerability that allows attackers to manipulate the WPS service to make unauthorized requests to internal or external systems. The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the WPS processing logic, where user-supplied parameters are not properly filtered before being used to construct HTTP requests. This weakness creates a pathway for malicious actors to leverage the GeoServer instance as an intermediary to access internal network resources or external services that should otherwise be restricted, effectively bypassing network security controls. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable attackers to perform reconnaissance activities, access sensitive internal systems, or potentially escalate privileges within the network environment.
The operational consequences of CVE-2023-43795 are particularly concerning for organizations relying on GeoServer for their geospatial data management and sharing capabilities. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can potentially gain access to internal databases, file systems, or other network services that are typically protected by firewalls and network segmentation policies. The WPS service's design inherently makes it susceptible to this type of attack since it is designed to process and forward requests to various data sources, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to leverage legitimate service functionality for unauthorized access. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-918, which specifically addresses Server Side Request Forgery issues where applications fail to validate and sanitize user inputs before making requests to other systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 - Proxy Process, as attackers can utilize the legitimate GeoServer service to proxy requests to internal systems, bypassing traditional network security controls that would normally prevent such access attempts.
Organizations utilizing GeoServer must prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by upgrading to version 2.22.5 or 2.23.2, which contain the necessary patches to address the WPS processing logic flaws. Security administrators should implement additional monitoring measures to detect anomalous WPS service usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on unusual request routing or access to unexpected network destinations. Network segmentation strategies should be reviewed to ensure that GeoServer instances are properly isolated from critical internal systems, and access controls should be implemented to restrict WPS service usage to authorized personnel only. The patch addresses the core issue by implementing proper input validation and sanitization within the WPS processing components, ensuring that user-supplied parameters cannot be used to construct malicious requests to internal or external systems. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their geospatial infrastructure to identify any other potential attack vectors within their GeoServer deployments, as this vulnerability may indicate broader security gaps in their geospatial data management systems.