CVE-2023-7032 in Easergy Studio
Summary
by MITRE • 01/09/2024
A CWE-502: Deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability exists that could allow an attacker logged in with a user level account to gain higher privileges by providing a harmful serialized object.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical deserialization flaw classified as CWE-502, which occurs when applications deserialize untrusted data without proper validation or sanitization. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where user-level authenticated sessions can be exploited to manipulate serialized objects that are subsequently processed by the application. Attackers leveraging this weakness can craft malicious serialized payloads that, when deserialized, execute arbitrary code or manipulate application state to escalate privileges from standard user level access to elevated permissions. The attack vector requires a pre-existing authenticated session, meaning an attacker must first obtain valid credentials or exploit another vulnerability to reach the point where they can leverage this deserialization flaw.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation during the deserialization process where objects are reconstructed from serialized data streams. When applications trust and directly deserialize user-provided data without adequate security controls, they become susceptible to object injection attacks. The malicious serialized objects can contain instructions that trigger unintended behavior during deserialization, potentially allowing attackers to execute commands, access restricted resources, or manipulate application logic. This flaw typically manifests in applications that use serialization frameworks such as Java's ObjectInputStream, PHP's unserialize function, or similar mechanisms across various programming languages and platforms. The vulnerability can be particularly dangerous because it operates at the application level and can bypass traditional network security controls since it requires only a valid session to exploit.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify application behavior, or potentially establish persistent access to systems. An attacker with a user-level account can leverage this vulnerability to compromise the entire application or underlying system, depending on how the serialized data is processed and what resources are accessible through the elevated privileges. The attack can result in data breaches, system compromise, or unauthorized access to administrative functions, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on applications with insecure deserialization practices. This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and command and control operations, where attackers can use the elevated access to maintain persistence or move laterally within networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require comprehensive input validation and secure deserialization practices throughout the application lifecycle. Organizations should implement strict object validation mechanisms that reject or sanitize any serialized data before processing, particularly when the data originates from untrusted sources or user sessions. The use of allowlists for acceptable object types and implementing secure serialization frameworks that prevent arbitrary object instantiation are essential defensive measures. Additionally, application security testing should include thorough examination of deserialization points, including static analysis of serialization code and dynamic testing of user-provided data handling. Security controls should enforce principle of least privilege where even authenticated users cannot manipulate serialized objects that could lead to privilege escalation. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments are crucial to identify and remediate similar deserialization flaws that may exist in third-party libraries or components used within the application ecosystem.