CVE-2023-52066 in http.zig
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2024
http.zig commit 76cf5 was discovered to contain a CRLF injection vulnerability via the url parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-52066 represents a critical CRLF (Carriage Return Line Feed) injection flaw within the http.zig module of a software library. This issue was introduced in commit 76cf5 and specifically affects the handling of URL parameters, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate HTTP headers through crafted input. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data before it is processed into HTTP response headers, which directly aligns with CWE-113 - Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences in HTTP Headers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker submits a URL parameter containing CRLF sequences such as %0d%0a or \r\n directly into the url parameter. When the http.zig library processes this input without proper sanitization, it allows the injected sequences to be interpreted as HTTP header terminators, enabling attackers to inject arbitrary headers into HTTP responses. This can lead to various security consequences including HTTP response splitting, cache poisoning, cross-site scripting attacks, and session manipulation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the HTTP protocol level where such injections can be leveraged to bypass security controls and manipulate web application behavior.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to web applications that rely on the http.zig library for handling HTTP requests and responses. Attackers could exploit this flaw to inject malicious headers that redirect users to phishing sites, manipulate cookies, or inject content into web pages. The impact extends beyond simple header injection as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as cross-site scripting when combined with other vulnerabilities, or cache poisoning that affects multiple users. The vulnerability affects any application that accepts user input through URL parameters and processes it through the vulnerable http.zig module, making it particularly widespread in web applications and API endpoints.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-52066 should focus on immediate input validation and sanitization of URL parameters before they are processed by the http.zig library. Security teams should implement strict validation that rejects or encodes CRLF sequences in user-supplied input, particularly in HTTP header contexts. The recommended approach includes implementing proper input sanitization functions that remove or escape CRLF characters from URL parameters and other user-supplied data before processing. Additionally, application developers should consider upgrading to patched versions of the http.zig library where available, or implementing defensive programming practices such as using parameterized headers and avoiding direct concatenation of user input into HTTP response headers. Organizations should also conduct thorough code reviews to identify other potential injection points and implement proper HTTP header validation as part of their overall security posture, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment and T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS to prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities in their network infrastructure.