CVE-2023-1538: Github.com/answerdev/answer Answer Has Observable Timing Discrepancy Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-rvjp-8qj4-8p29
Share
CVSS 5.3
CWE-203 CWE-208
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-1538 is a MODERATE (CVSS 5.3) answer has observable timing discrepancy vulnerability (CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy) affecting Github.com/answerdev/answer libraries in the Go ecosystem. The issue involves answer has observable timing discrepancy. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.0.6.

CVE-2023-1538 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-1538
GHSA Identifier GHSA-rvjp-8qj4-8p29
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 5.3
CWE Classification CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy
Affected Product Github.com/answerdev/answer
Package Ecosystem Go
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 5.3

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality Low (C:L)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-1538

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Github.com/answerdev/answer dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

github.com/answerdev/answer fixed: 1.0.6 
Upgrade github.com/answerdev/answer to 1.0.6
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

inspect dependencies for github.com/answerdev/answer

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2023-1538, inspect your project dependencies for Github.com/answerdev/answer:

inspect dependencies for github.com/answerdev/answer

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Github.com/answerdev/answer in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.0.6), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy, where the product behaves differently or sends different responses under different circumstances in a way that is observable to an unauthorized actor. In Github.com/answerdev/answer, 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

Observable Timing Discrepancy in GitHub repository answerdev/answer prior to 1.0.6.

CVE-2023-1538 Affected Github.com/answerdev/answer Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.0.6
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
github.com/answerdev/answer
golang/github.com/answerdev/answer
Go
< 1.0.6
1.0.6

References

NVD — CVE-2023-1538 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-1538
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/answerdev/answer/commit/813ad0b9894673b1bdd489a2e9ab60a44fe990af
Github.com/answerdev/answer Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/answerdev/answer
huntr.dev/bounties/ac0271eb-6... WEB
https://huntr.dev/bounties/ac0271eb-660f-4966-8b57-4bc660a9a1a0

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-1538?
CVE-2023-1538 is a security vulnerability in Github.com/answerdev/answer involving Answer has Observable Timing Discrepancy under CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy.
Which Github.com/answerdev/answer versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.0.6 across affected packages: github.com/answerdev/answer.
What version fixes CVE-2023-1538?
Upgrading to 1.0.6 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is github.com/answerdev/answer affected?
Yes, github.com/answerdev/answer is affected in releases prior to 1.0.6. Upgrade your dependency to 1.0.6 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-1538?
CVE-2023-1538 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-1538?
CVE-2023-1538 is classified under CWE-203: Observable Discrepancy (The product behaves differently or sends different responses under different circumstances in a way that is observable to an unauthorized actor.).
How can I check Go dependencies for CVE-2023-1538?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for github.com/answerdev/answer'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-rvjp-8qj4-8p29",
  "modified" : "2023-03-23T16:30:08Z",
  "published" : "2023-03-21T06:30:17Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-1538" ],
  "summary" : "Answer has Observable Timing Discrepancy",
  "details" : "Observable Timing Discrepancy in GitHub repository answerdev/answer prior to 1.0.6.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Go",
      "name" : "github.com/answerdev/answer"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.0.6"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-1538"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/answerdev/answer/commit/813ad0b9894673b1bdd489a2e9ab60a44fe990af"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/answerdev/answer"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://huntr.dev/bounties/ac0271eb-660f-4966-8b57-4bc660a9a1a0"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-203", "CWE-208" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-03-21T22:32:24Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-03-21T05:15:00Z"
  }
}