CVE-2023-7193 in Bookmark
Summary
by MITRE • 12/31/2023
A vulnerability was found in MTab Bookmark up to 1.2.6 and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file public/install.php of the component Installation. The manipulation leads to improper access controls. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitation is known to be difficult. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-249395. 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 • 01/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-7193 represents a critical access control flaw within the MTab Bookmark plugin version 1.2.6 and earlier, specifically targeting the installation component's public/install.php file. This issue falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, where improper access controls allow unauthorized entities to manipulate system resources. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates severe potential impact on system security and data integrity.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper handling of the installation process where the public/install.php file fails to properly validate access permissions or authenticate users attempting to initiate installation procedures. This creates a scenario where malicious actors can potentially bypass normal installation safeguards and gain unauthorized access to system resources during the installation phase. The attack complexity is rated as high due to the specialized knowledge required to exploit this specific vulnerability, though the public disclosure of the exploit means that skilled attackers can leverage this knowledge.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, modify system configurations, or establish persistent access points within affected systems. Given that the exploit has been publicly disclosed and is known to be usable, the window of opportunity for exploitation has significantly increased. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting legitimate credentials or access to gain system access, and T1078, which encompasses valid accounts and legitimate access to systems.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate mitigation efforts including patching the affected plugin to version 1.2.7 or later, implementing network-level restrictions on access to installation files, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts during installation phases. The lack of vendor response to early disclosure notifications compounds the risk, suggesting that organizations must take proactive defensive measures rather than relying on vendor remediation. Additional protective measures should include implementing web application firewalls to block suspicious installation-related requests and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's presence in the installation component specifically highlights the importance of securing all entry points into system configuration processes, as these phases often present the most significant attack surface for privilege escalation and system compromise scenarios.