CVE-2023-6117 in Server
Summary
by MITRE • 11/22/2023
A possibility of unwanted server memory consumption was detected through the obsolete functionalities in the Rest API methods of the M-Files server
before 23.11.13156.0 which allows attackers to execute DoS attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6117 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the M-Files server platform that specifically affects versions prior to 23.11.13156.0. This issue stems from deprecated REST API methods that continue to operate within the server's functionality, creating an avenue for malicious actors to exploit memory consumption patterns that were never properly addressed during the deprecation process. The root cause lies in the server's handling of obsolete API endpoints that maintain active memory allocation mechanisms even though their intended usage has been discontinued, creating a persistent resource drain that can be systematically exploited.
The technical flaw manifests through the server's failure to properly terminate or limit memory allocation when processing requests through these legacy REST API methods. Attackers can craft specific requests that trigger these deprecated endpoints, causing the server to consume excessive memory resources without proper bounds or cleanup mechanisms. This memory consumption pattern directly maps to CWE-400, which addresses unchecked resource consumption vulnerabilities, and specifically aligns with the broader category of resource exhaustion attacks that can lead to complete service disruption. The vulnerability's operational impact is particularly severe because it allows attackers to systematically consume server memory through legitimate API access points, making detection difficult as the attacks appear to originate from normal server operations.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability extend beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential system instability and complete unavailability of the M-Files server platform. When exploited, these deprecated API methods can cause progressive memory exhaustion that leads to server crashes, application hangs, or complete system failure. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard REST API access, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors. This vulnerability directly correlates with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a classic example of how legacy code management failures can create persistent security weaknesses in enterprise systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-6117 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to 23.11.13156.0 or later, which includes proper deprecation and cleanup of the vulnerable REST API methods. Organizations should also implement API request rate limiting and memory monitoring to detect unusual consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network-level controls can be deployed to restrict access to deprecated API endpoints, while comprehensive logging should be enabled to track usage patterns and identify potential abuse. Additionally, security teams should conduct thorough inventory assessments to identify any other deprecated functionalities that might present similar vulnerabilities, as this represents a systemic issue with legacy code management rather than an isolated incident. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper deprecation procedures and resource cleanup in enterprise software platforms, particularly those handling sensitive document management and collaboration workflows.