CVE-2023-50165 in Pega Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 01/31/2024
Pega Platform versions 8.2.1 to Infinity 23.1.0 are affected by an Generated PDF issue that could expose file contents.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-50165 affects Pega Platform versions ranging from 8.2.1 through Infinity 23.1.0 and relates to a critical issue in the platform's PDF generation functionality. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that could allow unauthorized access to sensitive file contents through improperly handled PDF documents. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and validation mechanisms within the PDF generation process, creating potential exposure pathways for confidential data that should remain protected within the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the PDF generation workflow where the platform fails to properly validate or sanitize file access requests. This weakness creates a condition where generated PDF documents may contain unintended references or embedded content that exposes underlying file system information or sensitive data structures. The flaw typically manifests when the platform processes user inputs or system data that gets incorporated into PDF documents without proper sanitization or access restriction checks. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20: Improper Input Validation, as the system does not adequately validate or sanitize inputs that influence PDF generation processes. The issue also relates to CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, when the PDF generation process improperly handles potentially malicious input that could result in information disclosure.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents substantial risk to organizations using Pega Platform as it could enable attackers to extract sensitive information from generated PDF documents. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure to potentially compromise entire application workflows and user privacy. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to confidential business information, personal data, or proprietary content that should remain protected within the system. The vulnerability affects all versions within the specified range, indicating a widespread issue that requires immediate attention from security teams and system administrators. This exposure could lead to compliance violations under regulations such as gdpr, hipaa, or other data protection frameworks that mandate proper handling of sensitive information.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches released by Pega, implementing additional access controls for PDF generation functionality, and conducting thorough audits of existing PDF documents to identify potential exposure. Security teams should also consider network segmentation to limit access to PDF generation components and implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual PDF generation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1074: Data Staged, as it involves the creation and potential exfiltration of sensitive data through legitimate platform functionality. Additionally, this weakness could enable further attacks through T1566: Phishing, if attackers can craft malicious PDF documents that appear legitimate but contain hidden data exposure mechanisms. Organizations should also implement comprehensive logging and monitoring of PDF generation activities to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts effectively.