CVE-2023-46633 in Glossary Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/02/2025
Missing Authorization vulnerability in TCBarrett Glossary allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Glossary: from n/a through 3.1.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46633 represents a critical authorization flaw within the TCBarrett Glossary application that stems from improperly configured access control security levels. This missing authorization issue creates a pathway for unauthorized users to access protected resources and functionality that should only be available to authenticated administrators or authorized personnel. The vulnerability exists across all versions of the Glossary application from the initial release through version 3.1.2, indicating a persistent flaw that has not been adequately addressed in the software development lifecycle. The root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which specifically addresses improper authorization within software systems, where the application fails to properly verify that users have the necessary permissions to access specific resources or perform certain operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests when the application does not adequately validate user permissions before granting access to sensitive administrative functions or protected content within the glossary system. Attackers can exploit this weakness by bypassing the normal authentication and authorization checks that should occur when users attempt to access restricted areas of the application. This misconfiguration allows malicious actors to potentially modify glossary entries, access confidential information, or perform administrative actions without proper credentials. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it affects the core access control mechanisms that should serve as the first line of defense in protecting sensitive data and system integrity. The flaw demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege where users may gain access to functionality beyond what their roles should permit, creating potential for data breaches, unauthorized modifications, and system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass significant risks to data integrity, confidentiality, and system availability within the affected environment. Organizations utilizing the TCBarrett Glossary application may experience unauthorized modifications to glossary content, potentially leading to misinformation dissemination or the introduction of malicious content into the system. The vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to escalate privileges or move laterally within networks where the application is deployed, as the missing authorization checks may serve as entry points for more sophisticated attacks. This weakness directly contradicts the fundamental security principle that access to system resources should be strictly controlled and validated, making it a prime target for exploitation by threat actors seeking to gain unauthorized access to sensitive organizational information. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions suggests that the development team may have overlooked critical access control implementation during the application's evolution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-46633 must address the immediate authorization gaps within the application while implementing comprehensive access control measures. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest available version of the TCBarrett Glossary application where the vulnerability has been patched, as this represents the most direct solution to the problem. System administrators should conduct thorough access control reviews to ensure that all authentication and authorization mechanisms are properly configured and functioning as intended. The implementation of proper input validation and access control checks should be enforced at multiple levels within the application architecture to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring controls to detect unauthorized access attempts and limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. This vulnerability highlights the importance of continuous security testing and validation of access control mechanisms, particularly in applications that handle sensitive data or provide administrative functionality, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's access control bypass techniques. Organizations should also establish regular security assessments and penetration testing procedures to identify and remediate similar authorization flaws before they can be exploited by malicious actors.