CVE-2023-51445: Gs restconfig Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
MODERATECVE-2023-51445 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.8) remote code execution vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Gs restconfig libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves stored cross-site scripting (xss) vulnerability in geoserver's rest resources api. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 2.23.3.
CVE-2023-51445 at a Glance
Security Impact
CVSS: 4.8
The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N).
How to Fix CVE-2023-51445
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Gs restconfig dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.
<dependency>
<groupId>org.geoserver</groupId>
<artifactId>gs-restconfig</artifactId>
<version>2.23.3</version>
</dependency>
Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.geoserver
How to Check if You Are Affected
To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-51445, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:
mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.geoserver
Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Gs restconfig in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 2.23.3), your application is affected.
Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.geoserver command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.
Technical Details
Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'), where the product does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes user-controllable input before it is placed in output that is used as a web page that is served to other users. In Gs restconfig, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.
Source Advisory Statement
CVE-2023-51445 Affected Gs restconfig Versions
1 component(s)| Product / Package | Ecosystem | Affected Versions | Fixed Version |
|---|---|---|---|
|
org.geoserver:gs-restconfig
|
Maven |
< 2.23.3
|
2.23.3
|
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2023-51445?
Which Gs restconfig versions are affected?
What version fixes CVE-2023-51445?
Is gs-restconfig affected?
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-51445?
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-51445?
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-51445?
Machine-readable OSV JSON
OSV v1.5 Schema
{
"schema_version" : "1.4.0",
"id" : "GHSA-fh7p-5f6g-vj2w",
"modified" : "2024-03-20T21:04:09Z",
"published" : "2024-03-20T14:58:17Z",
"aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-51445" ],
"summary" : "Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in GeoServer's REST Resources API",
"details" : "### Summary\nA stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists that enables an authenticated administrator with workspace-level privileges to store a JavaScript payload in uploaded style/legend resources that will execute in the context of another administrator's browser when viewed in the REST Resources API. Access to the REST Resources API is limited to full administrators by default and granting non-administrators access to this endpoint should be carefully considered as it may allow access to files containing sensitive information.\n\n### Details\nUpload a new Legend via the New Style page if user has permissions for this. This file is then not checked and is uploaded to the backend system. This file can then be viewed directly by requesting it via the API which will then view the file in its raw format without sanitisation.\n\n\n\n\n\n### PoC\n\n1 .User makes the following request to upload file.\n```\nPOST /geoserver/web/wicket/bookmarkable/org.geoserver.wms.web.data.StyleNewPage?11-1.IBehaviorListener.0-dialog-dialog-content-form-submit&wicket-ajax=true&wicket-ajax-baseurl=wicket%2Fbookmarkable%2Forg.geoserver.wms.web.data.StyleNewPage%3F11 HTTP/1.1\nHost: geoserver:8080\nUser-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:91.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/91.0\nAccept: text/html,application/xhtml+xml,application/xml;q=0.9,image/webp,*/*;q=0.8\nAccept-Language: en-US,en;q=0.5\nAccept-Encoding: gzip, deflate\nContent-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=---------------------------37957706701641834739220342753\nContent-Length: 619\nConnection: close\nUpgrade-Insecure-Requests: 1\n\n-----------------------------37957706701641834739220342753\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name=\"id89_hf_0\"\n-----------------------------37957706701641834739220342753\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name=\"userPanel:image\"\n-----------------------------37957706701641834739220342753\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name=\"userPanel:upload\"; filename=\"test.html\"\nContent-Type: text/html\n<script>alert(document.cookie)</script>\n-----------------------------37957706701641834739220342753\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name=\"p::submit\"\n1\n-----------------------------37957706701641834739220342753--\n```\n2. File is uploaded to the backend system and is viewable via the API at - /geoserver/rest/resourse/styles as per the screenshot above.\n\n3. If admin user views this file the Javascript is executed and this could be used to craft a payload to steal the user's cookies(as these do not currently use HTTPOnly)\n\n\nAlternatively -\n\nIf the user has permissions to use the API to make PUT requests then they can directly upload malicious files as per a request below. This would be viewable in the same way as above.\n\nPUT /geoserver/rest/resource/styles/test2.html HTTP/1.1\nHost: geoserver:8080\nUser-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:91.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/91.0\nAccept: text/html,application/xhtml+xml,application/xml;q=0.9,image/webp,*/*;q=0.8\nAccept-Language: en-US,en;q=0.5\nAccept-Encoding: gzip, deflate\nAuthorization: Basic YWRtaW46Z2Vvc2VydmVy (admin:geoserver default credentials)\nConnection: close\nUpgrade-Insecure-Requests: 1\nContent-Type: text/html\nContent-Length: 29\n\n<script>alert(1)</script>\n\n\n### Impact\nIf an attacker can control a script that is executed in the victim's browser, then they can typically fully compromise that user. Amongst other things, the attacker can:\n\n1 .Perform any action within the application that the user can perform.\n2. View any information that the user is able to view.\n3. Modify any information that the user is able to modify.\n4. Initiate interactions with other application users, including malicious attacks, that will appear to originate from the initial victim user.\n\n### References\nhttps://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOS-11148\nhttps://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/pull/7161\n",
"severity" : [ {
"type" : "CVSS_V3",
"score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N"
} ],
"affected" : [ {
"package" : {
"ecosystem" : "Maven",
"name" : "org.geoserver:gs-restconfig"
},
"ranges" : [ {
"type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
"events" : [ {
"introduced" : "0"
}, {
"fixed" : "2.23.3"
} ]
} ]
} ],
"references" : [ {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/security/advisories/GHSA-fh7p-5f6g-vj2w"
}, {
"type" : "ADVISORY",
"url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-51445"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/pull/7161"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver/commit/7db985738ff2422019ccac974cf547bae5770cad"
}, {
"type" : "PACKAGE",
"url" : "https://github.com/geoserver/geoserver"
}, {
"type" : "WEB",
"url" : "https://osgeo-org.atlassian.net/browse/GEOS-11148"
} ],
"database_specific" : {
"cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
"severity" : "MODERATE",
"github_reviewed" : true,
"github_reviewed_at" : "2024-03-20T14:58:17Z",
"nvd_published_at" : "2024-03-20T16:15:07Z"
}
}