CVE-2023-48252 in Nexo Cordless Nutrunner
Summary
by MITRE • 01/10/2024
The vulnerability allows an authenticated remote attacker to perform actions exceeding their authorized access via crafted HTTP requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-48252 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw that enables authenticated remote attackers to execute actions beyond their legitimate permissions through carefully crafted HTTP requests. This issue fundamentally undermines the access control mechanisms of the affected system, creating a pathway for attackers to escalate their privileges and perform unauthorized operations. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly validate user permissions during request processing, allowing maliciously constructed HTTP requests to circumvent intended security controls. Such a flaw typically arises from inadequate input validation or flawed session management logic within the web application's authorization framework.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the authentication and authorization subsystems. The flaw likely stems from improper handling of user roles, permissions, or session tokens during HTTP request processing. Attackers can exploit this weakness by constructing HTTP requests that manipulate authorization parameters, potentially leveraging techniques such as parameter tampering, role spoofing, or session token manipulation. The vulnerability may be related to common web application security issues including weak session management, insufficient input validation, or flawed access control checks that do not adequately verify user permissions before executing sensitive operations. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-285 which specifically addresses improper authorization scenarios in software systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-48252 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized administrative actions. An authenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to access restricted resources, modify sensitive data, or perform administrative functions that should only be available to privileged users. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the system, significantly expanding the attack surface and potential impact. Depending on the application's architecture and the privileges of authenticated users, this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain full administrative control over affected systems, leading to complete system compromise and data exfiltration. The vulnerability's presence in the authentication and authorization layers makes it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to bypass multiple security controls simultaneously.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation, strengthening session management protocols, and enforcing proper access control checks at every point of request processing. Organizations should implement comprehensive authorization frameworks that validate user permissions for each operation, regardless of the request source or user authentication status. The solution involves ensuring that all HTTP requests undergo strict authorization verification before any privileged operations are executed. Security patches should address the root cause by correcting the flawed authorization logic and implementing proper parameter validation mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as request logging, anomaly detection, and regular security testing to identify and prevent similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, making it a critical concern for organizations implementing zero-trust security models where every request must be validated regardless of authentication status.