CVE-2023-6378 in logback
Summary
by MITRE • 11/29/2023
A serialization vulnerability in logback receiver component part of logback version 1.4.11 allows an attacker to mount a Denial-Of-Service attack by sending poisoned data.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6378 resides within the logback library's receiver component, specifically affecting version 1.4.11. This issue manifests as a serialization flaw that enables remote attackers to craft malicious payloads designed to disrupt service availability. The logback library serves as a fundamental logging framework for java applications, making this vulnerability particularly concerning given its widespread adoption across enterprise environments. The receiver component typically handles incoming log data from remote sources, establishing a potential attack surface where untrusted input can be leveraged for malicious purposes.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation of serialized data within the logback receiver implementation. When the system processes incoming serialized objects, it fails to properly sanitize or validate the data structure before deserializing it into memory. This weakness allows an attacker to construct specially crafted serialized data that, when processed by the vulnerable receiver, triggers unexpected behavior leading to resource exhaustion or application instability. The vulnerability operates at the serialization layer where objects are converted from their binary representation back into usable objects within the application runtime environment. This deserialization process lacks proper input validation mechanisms that would normally prevent malicious objects from being instantiated.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-6378 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise entire application stacks. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to consume excessive system resources through crafted serialization payloads, leading to denial-of-service conditions that may require system restarts or manual intervention to resolve. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be executed remotely without requiring authentication, making it accessible to any attacker who can reach the vulnerable system's network interface. This vulnerability directly maps to attack patterns documented in the attack technique matrix under the category of resource exhaustion attacks, where attackers target application components that handle external input. Organizations utilizing logback for centralized logging may find their logging infrastructure becomes unavailable during an attack, potentially masking other security incidents while the primary system remains compromised.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-6378 should prioritize immediate version upgrades to logback 1.4.12 or later, which contains patches addressing the serialization validation issues. Network-level controls such as firewalls and access control lists should be implemented to restrict access to logback receiver endpoints, limiting exposure to untrusted networks. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures within applications that utilize logback can provide defense-in-depth protection. Security teams should monitor for suspicious network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts and establish logging controls to detect malformed serialized data. The vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumeration CWE-502 which specifically addresses unsafe deserialization practices, and represents a significant concern for organizations following the mitre attack framework where such vulnerabilities can serve as initial access points for more sophisticated attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting controls and runtime monitoring to detect anomalous deserialization behavior that may indicate exploitation attempts.