CVE-2023-7114 in Mattermost
Summary
by MITRE • 12/29/2023
Mattermost version 2.10.0 and earlier fails to sanitize deeplink paths, which allows an attacker to perform CSRF attacks against the server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-7114 affects Mattermost versions 2.10.0 and earlier, specifically targeting the application's handling of deeplink paths within its web interface. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the platform's input validation mechanisms, where the system fails to properly sanitize user-supplied URL parameters that are used for deep linking functionality. The issue stems from the application's inability to adequately filter or escape potentially malicious input that could be embedded within deeplink paths, creating an avenue for exploitation that directly impacts the platform's security posture.
Deep linking capabilities in web applications typically allow users to navigate directly to specific content or sections within an application using predefined URLs. In Mattermost's case, when users click on deeplinks, the application processes these URLs to determine where to redirect or what content to display. The lack of proper sanitization means that an attacker can craft malicious URLs containing crafted payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable system, can execute unintended actions. This vulnerability specifically enables Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks, where an attacker can trick authenticated users into performing actions they did not intend to execute, potentially compromising the integrity of user sessions and system operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it allows for unauthorized modifications to user accounts, channel configurations, and potentially sensitive system settings. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability through a CSRF attack, they can manipulate the Mattermost environment to perform actions such as creating new users, modifying existing user permissions, changing channel memberships, or even deleting critical system components. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the trust relationship between the user and the application, making it difficult for users to detect malicious activity. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal authentication checks and execute privileged operations on behalf of authenticated users, creating a significant risk to both individual user accounts and the overall platform security.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79, which addresses Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities, though in this case the exploitation occurs through CSRF rather than direct script injection. The issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically the use of social engineering to manipulate users into executing malicious actions. Organizations using vulnerable Mattermost versions face substantial risk of unauthorized access, data manipulation, and potential privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and inadequate security controls around user-supplied parameters, which are fundamental requirements in secure application design. Security teams should prioritize immediate remediation efforts, including upgrading to patched versions of Mattermost, implementing additional web application firewalls, and conducting comprehensive security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred prior to patch deployment.
The exploitation of CVE-2023-7114 requires minimal technical sophistication from attackers, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with less mature security monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability's impact is amplified when considering that Mattermost is often used in enterprise environments where sensitive communications and collaboration data reside, making successful exploitation potentially devastating for organizational security. Organizations should implement network-level protections, monitor for suspicious URL patterns, and ensure that all users are educated about the risks of clicking untrusted links. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing proper security testing procedures to identify such flaws before they can be exploited in the wild.