CVE-2023-4884 in Open5GS
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
An attacker could send an HTTP request to an Open5GS endpoint and retrieve the information stored on the device due to the lack of Authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4884 represents a critical authentication flaw within the Open5GS telecommunications platform that serves as a foundation for 5G core network infrastructure. This issue affects the system's ability to properly verify user identities and access rights, creating a significant security risk for mobile network operators who rely on Open5GS for their network operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts endpoints that handle HTTP requests, which are commonly used for administrative functions, monitoring, and configuration management within the network infrastructure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authentication mechanisms implemented within the Open5GS system's web interfaces and API endpoints. When an attacker crafts and sends a specially formatted HTTP request to any vulnerable endpoint, the system fails to validate the requester's credentials or authorization status before processing the request. This design flaw allows unauthorized parties to access sensitive information that should only be available to authenticated administrators or authorized network components. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor that bypasses all normal access controls, enabling information disclosure through simple HTTP requests that do not require any valid authentication tokens or credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-4884 extends far beyond simple information disclosure, potentially compromising the entire integrity of 5G network operations. Attackers who exploit this vulnerability could gain access to critical network configuration data, user subscription information, authentication credentials, and other sensitive operational details that would enable them to conduct sophisticated attacks including man-in-the-middle operations, network traffic interception, or even full network compromise. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in the CWE taxonomy under CWE-306, which addresses missing authentication for critical functions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential harvesting and T1071 for application layer protocol usage. The implications are particularly severe for mobile network operators as this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to network infrastructure that controls millions of users' communications and data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of robust authentication controls across all HTTP endpoints within the Open5GS system. Network administrators should implement mandatory authentication for all administrative interfaces and API endpoints, utilizing strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication, secure token-based systems, or certificate-based authentication. The fix should involve enforcing proper access control lists that validate user credentials before granting access to sensitive data, implementing rate limiting to prevent automated exploitation attempts, and ensuring that all network interfaces are properly secured through network segmentation and firewall rules. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security audits of their Open5GS deployments to identify all potentially vulnerable endpoints and apply security patches immediately. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on unauthorized access attempts to administrative interfaces will provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of following security best practices as outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards for securing telecommunications infrastructure and protecting against unauthorized access to critical network components.