CVE-2023-48221 in wire-avs
Summary
by MITRE • 11/20/2023
wire-avs provides Audio, Visual, and Signaling (AVS) functionality sure the secure messaging software Wire. Prior to versions 9.2.22 and 9.3.5, a remote format string vulnerability could potentially allow an attacker to cause a denial of service or possibly execute arbitrary code. The issue has been fixed in wire-avs 9.2.22 & 9.3.5 and is already included on all Wire products. No known workarounds are available.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-48221 affects the wire-avs component of the Wire secure messaging platform, which provides Audio, Visual, and Signaling functionality essential to the platform's communication infrastructure. This remote format string vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that could potentially enable attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions within the affected systems. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 9.2.22 and 9.3.5 of the wire-avs software, making all earlier installations susceptible to exploitation.
The technical flaw stems from improper handling of format strings in the software's input processing mechanisms, creating a classic format string vulnerability that falls under CWE-134. This type of vulnerability occurs when user-supplied data is directly used as a format string parameter in functions such as printf or sprintf without proper sanitization. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious input that contains format specifiers, allowing them to manipulate memory contents, read sensitive data from memory, or even execute arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in a communication platform like Wire where the AVS functionality handles real-time audio and video signaling data from multiple users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable full system compromise. When exploited successfully, attackers could gain unauthorized access to the affected systems, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized communication interception, or complete system control. The vulnerability affects the core signaling infrastructure that manages audio and video communications, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to disrupt secure communications or gain access to sensitive information. Given that Wire is a secure messaging platform designed for enterprise and government use cases, the potential impact of such an exploit could be severe, affecting confidential communications and potentially compromising national security or business-critical operations.
Mitigation efforts have been addressed through the release of wire-avs versions 9.2.22 and 9.3.5, which contain the necessary patches to resolve the format string vulnerability. Organizations using affected versions should immediately upgrade to these patched releases to eliminate the security risk. The vulnerability is also already included in all Wire products, indicating that the software vendors have implemented comprehensive fixes across their product line. Security professionals should monitor for any related attacks targeting this vulnerability and ensure that all instances of the wire-avs component are updated to the latest secure versions. The lack of known workarounds means that organizations must rely entirely on the official patches provided by the software vendors to protect against this specific threat vector. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date secure communication platforms, particularly in environments where the integrity and confidentiality of communications are paramount. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under T1211 - Exploitation for Defense Evasion and potentially T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the exploitation could lead to command execution and system compromise through the format string vulnerability.