CVE-2023-4876 in inure
Summary
by MITRE • 09/10/2023
Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor in GitHub repository hamza417/inure prior to build92.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4876 represents a critical exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors within the GitHub repository hamza417/inure prior to build92. This issue falls under the broader category of information disclosure vulnerabilities that can severely compromise system security and data integrity. The vulnerability manifests in a repository that appears to be related to cybersecurity or penetration testing tools, given the naming convention and the nature of the exposed information. Such repositories often contain sensitive data that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to systems or networks.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive information within the repository's codebase or configuration files. This typically occurs when developers inadvertently commit confidential data such as API keys, database credentials, encryption keys, or other privileged information directly into version control systems. The repository structure likely contains files or code sections that reference or embed sensitive data without proper sanitization or exclusion from the source code repository. This represents a fundamental failure in secure coding practices and configuration management, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by anyone with access to the repository.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to escalate their privileges and compromise entire systems. An unauthorized actor who gains access to the exposed sensitive information could potentially authenticate to various systems, access restricted data, perform unauthorized operations, or establish persistent access within the target environment. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it existed in builds prior to build92, indicating that multiple versions of the software may have contained the exposed information. This creates a prolonged window of vulnerability that could have allowed attackers to exploit the information for extended periods.
Security practitioners should immediately implement comprehensive remediation measures including comprehensive code reviews, automated scanning tools, and strict access controls to prevent future occurrences. The repository should be audited for all instances of sensitive information, and proper configuration management practices should be enforced. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-209, which addresses information exposure through error messages, and may also relate to CWE-540, which covers exposure of sensitive information through source code. Organizations should implement continuous monitoring and automated scanning to detect similar issues in their code repositories. The remediation process should include immediate removal of exposed credentials from the repository history, implementation of automated security scanning tools, and establishment of proper developer education programs to prevent recurrence of such vulnerabilities.
From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper security controls throughout the software development lifecycle. The issue highlights the need for comprehensive security awareness training for developers and the establishment of secure coding practices that prevent sensitive information from being committed to version control systems. Organizations should implement automated security scanning tools that can detect sensitive information in code repositories and establish proper access controls and monitoring procedures to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that information disclosure issues can have far-reaching consequences and require proactive security measures to prevent exploitation by malicious actors.