CVE-2023-7159 in MasterLab
Summary
by MITRE • 12/29/2023
A vulnerability was found in gopeak MasterLab up to 3.3.10. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function add/update of the file app/ctrl/admin/User.php. The manipulation of the argument avatar leads to unrestricted upload. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-249181 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-7159 represents a critical security flaw in the gopeak MasterLab software version 3.3.10 and earlier. This issue resides within the administrative user management functionality, specifically in the add/update operations of the User.php file located at app/ctrl/admin/User.php. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly restrict file uploads, particularly concerning avatar image submissions. Security researchers have classified this as a critical risk due to the potential for remote code execution and system compromise through unrestricted file upload capabilities.
The technical implementation flaw manifests when the application processes user avatar uploads without proper validation of file types, sizes, or content. This allows attackers to upload malicious files that can execute arbitrary code on the server, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability operates through the administrative user management interface, where legitimate administrators can update user profiles, making the attack surface more accessible to authenticated users who may have elevated privileges. The unrestricted upload capability directly maps to CWE-434, which describes the improper restriction of uploads of executable files, a well-documented weakness in web applications. The attack vector requires remote exploitation, meaning that malicious actors can leverage this vulnerability from external networks without requiring physical access to the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-7159 extends beyond simple data compromise, potentially enabling full system takeover through remote code execution. Attackers can upload malicious scripts, web shells, or other malicious executables that persist on the server and can be leveraged for ongoing unauthorized access. The disclosure of this exploit to the public, as indicated by the VDB-249181 identifier, increases the likelihood of real-world exploitation and makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous. Organizations running affected versions of gopeak MasterLab face significant risk of data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework would likely fall under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, with potential subsequent techniques including T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1078 - Valid Accounts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action including updating to the latest version of gopeak MasterLab where the issue has been patched. Organizations should implement comprehensive file upload restrictions that validate file types against a whitelist of approved extensions and MIME types. The application should enforce strict file size limits and perform content validation to prevent execution of malicious code within uploaded files. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit administrative access to the user management functions. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls and implement proper monitoring to detect suspicious file upload activities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the application stack. The fix should include proper input sanitization, output encoding, and implementation of secure file handling practices that align with OWASP secure coding guidelines to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.