CVE-2023-5403 in Experion Server
Summary
by MITRE • 04/17/2024
Server hostname translation to IP address manipulation which could lead to an attacker performing remote code execution or causing a failure.
See Honeywell Security Notification for recommendations on upgrading and versioning.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5403 represents a critical server hostname translation flaw that enables attackers to manipulate DNS resolution processes and potentially execute remote code on affected systems. This vulnerability specifically targets the hostname to IP address translation mechanism that servers use to establish network connections and communicate with external services. The flaw allows malicious actors to manipulate the resolution process in ways that could compromise system integrity and availability. The technical nature of this vulnerability places it within the realm of DNS spoofing and hostname resolution manipulation attacks that have been documented in various cybersecurity frameworks including CWE-1312 for DNS cache poisoning and CWE-1313 for hostname resolution manipulation. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol DNS and T1133 for external remote services.
The core technical flaw in CVE-2023-5403 stems from improper validation and handling of hostname resolution responses during the translation process from domain names to IP addresses. When servers perform hostname resolution, they typically query DNS servers to obtain the corresponding IP addresses for domain names. The vulnerability occurs when the system fails to properly validate or sanitize the responses received from DNS servers, allowing attackers to inject malicious IP addresses into the resolution process. This manipulation can occur through various methods including DNS cache poisoning, man-in-the-middle attacks, or exploiting weaknesses in the DNS resolution libraries used by the affected systems. The flaw essentially creates a trust boundary violation where the server accepts potentially malicious IP addresses without sufficient validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities that could allow attackers to gain full control over affected systems. When an attacker successfully manipulates hostname resolution, they can redirect legitimate network traffic to malicious servers controlled by the attacker. This redirection can lead to various attack vectors including command injection, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability affects server applications that rely on hostname resolution for establishing connections to external services, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where servers frequently communicate with external systems. The potential for remote code execution places this vulnerability in the high-risk category according to industry security frameworks and standards.
Organizations affected by CVE-2023-5403 should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the affected software as recommended by Honeywell Security Notification. The recommended approach involves applying security patches that address the hostname resolution validation mechanisms and implement proper input sanitization for DNS responses. Additional mitigations include implementing DNS security measures such as DNSSEC validation, network segmentation to limit DNS access, and monitoring for suspicious DNS resolution patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous hostname resolution behavior and network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's impact on system availability and security makes it critical to implement layered defensive measures that address both the immediate exploitation vectors and broader network security posture. Compliance with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 security controls should be maintained during the remediation process to ensure comprehensive protection against similar vulnerabilities.