CVE-2023-7091 in Dreamer
Summary
by MITRE • 12/25/2023
A vulnerability was found in Dreamer CMS 4.1.3. It has been declared as problematic. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file /upload/uploadFile. The manipulation of the argument file leads to unrestricted upload. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-248938 is the identifier 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 • 01/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-7091 represents a critical security flaw in Dreamer CMS version 4.1.3 that falls under the category of unrestricted file upload. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to bypass normal file validation mechanisms and upload malicious files to the target system. The issue specifically resides in the file upload functionality located at /upload/uploadFile, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the file parameter before processing. The vulnerability has been classified as having remote exploit capabilities, meaning that an attacker can leverage this flaw without requiring physical access to the system, making it highly accessible to threat actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-434, which describes the weakness of unrestricted upload of file with dangerous type. When an application accepts file uploads without proper validation, it creates an opportunity for attackers to upload malicious files such as web shells, scripts, or other executable content that can be executed within the context of the web server. The flaw manifests when the application processes the file argument without implementing adequate checks on file type, size, or content, allowing arbitrary file uploads to occur. This particular implementation allows attackers to upload files with potentially harmful extensions or content that could compromise the entire web application and underlying infrastructure.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-7091 is severe and multifaceted, encompassing potential complete system compromise, data breaches, and service disruption. Once an attacker successfully uploads malicious files through this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary code on the web server, potentially leading to full system control. This capability enables attackers to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, deploy additional malware, or use the compromised system as a launch point for further attacks within the network. The remote exploit nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can target affected systems from anywhere on the internet, significantly expanding the attack surface and making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that do not maintain proper network segmentation or monitoring controls.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to protect their systems. The most critical immediate action involves patching the Dreamer CMS to the latest version that addresses this specific flaw, as the vendor has not provided any response to the disclosure despite early notification. Additionally, implementing strict file upload validation mechanisms should be prioritized, including content type checking, file extension filtering, and size limitations. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and block suspicious file upload attempts. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual file upload activities, and access controls should be tightened to limit who can perform file upload operations within the application. The vulnerability's public disclosure status means that threat actors are actively exploiting this weakness, making rapid remediation essential to prevent potential compromise of affected systems.
This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in web applications. The flaw represents a classic example of how insufficient validation of user-supplied data can lead to severe security consequences. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as attackers can leverage the upload capability to execute malicious code. The lack of vendor response also highlights the risks associated with using open source or less-maintained software packages, emphasizing the need for organizations to maintain proper security monitoring and incident response capabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can identify similar issues in other applications and systems within their environment to prevent similar vulnerabilities from going undetected.