CVE-2023-5489 in Smart S45F Multi-Service Secure Gateway Intelligent Management Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Beijing Baichuo Smart S45F Multi-Service Secure Gateway Intelligent Management Platform up to 20230928. This affects an unknown part of the file /Tool/uploadfile.php. The manipulation of the argument file_upload leads to unrestricted upload. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-241641 was assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5489 represents a critical security flaw in the Beijing Baichuo Smart S45F Multi-Service Secure Gateway Intelligent Management Platform, specifically affecting versions up to 20230928. This vulnerability resides within the /Tool/uploadfile.php component and demonstrates a severe unrestricted file upload vulnerability that allows attackers to bypass normal file upload restrictions. The flaw manifests when the file_upload parameter is manipulated, enabling unauthorized file uploads without proper validation or sanitization measures. This critical weakness affects the platform's integrity and security posture, potentially compromising the entire network infrastructure that relies on this gateway for secure communications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-434, which describes the weakness of unrestricted file upload or file inclusion, a category that has been consistently ranked among the most dangerous web application security flaws. The vulnerability operates through a remote attack vector, meaning that threat actors can exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the system or network. The exploit's public disclosure through identifier VDB-241641 indicates that malicious actors have already developed and deployed working exploits against this vulnerability. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure attempts compounds the severity, leaving organizations without official patches or mitigation guidance during an active attack window.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations utilizing the Baichuo S45F platform, as it allows attackers to upload malicious files that could execute arbitrary code on the target system. The implications extend beyond simple file uploads, as attackers could potentially deploy web shells, backdoors, or other malicious payloads that would provide persistent access to the network. The vulnerability's classification as critical under CVSS scoring systems reflects the potential for complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network. Organizations using this platform face immediate risk of unauthorized access, system infiltration, and potential data breaches that could affect sensitive information and operational continuity.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate the affected platform, firewall rule restrictions to limit access to the vulnerable upload endpoint, and comprehensive monitoring for suspicious file upload activities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, with potential subsequent techniques including T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell and T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious upload attempts, conduct thorough network scans to identify compromised systems, and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing unrestricted file upload vulnerabilities. The absence of vendor support for this vulnerability necessitates proactive defensive measures and potentially seeking alternative security solutions or third-party patches until official remediation becomes available.