CVE-2023-52229 in Save as PDF Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/20/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Save as PDF plugin by Pdfcrowd Word Replacer Pro.This issue affects Word Replacer Pro: from n/a through 1.0.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2024
The CVE-2023-52229 vulnerability represents a critical authorization flaw within the Save as PDF plugin component of Pdfcrowd Word Replacer Pro software. This missing authorization issue exposes the system to potential unauthorized access and manipulation of document processing functions. The vulnerability exists in versions ranging from the initial release through version 1.0, indicating that the authorization mechanism was either completely absent or inadequately implemented from the software's inception. The flaw allows attackers to bypass intended access controls and perform actions that should be restricted to authorized users only, potentially leading to data exposure, document manipulation, or system compromise. This type of vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles and can have severe operational consequences for organizations relying on the software for document management and processing.
The technical implementation of this authorization bypass occurs at the plugin level where the Save as PDF functionality fails to properly validate user credentials or roles before executing sensitive operations. This missing authorization check creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system regardless of their actual permissions or authentication status. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-863, which specifically addresses "Incorrect Authorization" conditions where the system fails to properly verify that an actor is authorized to perform a requested action. From an operational perspective, this flaw enables attackers to potentially access restricted document processing features, modify document content, or trigger unauthorized PDF generation processes that could contain sensitive information. The impact extends beyond simple access control violations as it undermines the integrity and confidentiality of the document processing workflow.
The operational consequences of CVE-2023-52229 are significant for organizations utilizing Pdfcrowd Word Replacer Pro software. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to document processing capabilities, potentially leading to data leakage, content manipulation, or disruption of legitimate business processes. The vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to leverage the PDF generation functionality for malicious purposes, including injecting malicious content into documents or accessing documents that should remain restricted. From an attack framework perspective, this issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts usage and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to system resources. Organizations may face compliance violations and regulatory penalties if sensitive documents are exposed due to this authorization failure, particularly in industries with strict data protection requirements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-52229 should prioritize immediate software updates and patches provided by the vendor to address the authorization bypass. System administrators should implement additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts to the PDF processing functionality. The remediation process should include thorough review of all authorization checks within the plugin and implementation of proper authentication validation before executing sensitive operations. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit access to systems running the vulnerable software and implement comprehensive logging to track document processing activities. Security teams should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any other components that might share similar authorization flaws and ensure that all user interactions with document processing functions are properly authenticated and authorized. The fix should align with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 frameworks for access control and authorization management.