CVE-2023-6835: Forum WSO2 API Manager Allows Attackers Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-w7rx-824v-rgx5
Share
CVSS 4.3
CWE-20
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-6835 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.3) wso2 api manager allows attackers vulnerability (CWE-20: Improper Input Validation) affecting Forum libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves wso2 api manager allows attackers to change the api rating. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2023-6835 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-6835
GHSA Identifier GHSA-w7rx-824v-rgx5
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.3
CWE Classification CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
Affected Product Forum
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.3

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2023-6835

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

org.wso2.carbon.apimgt:forum fixed: Latest secure release 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.wso2.carbon.apimgt</groupId>
    <artifactId>forum</artifactId>
    <version>Latest secure release</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.wso2.carbon.apimgt

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-6835, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.wso2.carbon.apimgt

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Forum in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.wso2.carbon.apimgt 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-20: Improper Input Validation, where the product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. In Forum, 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

Multiple WSO2 products have been identified as vulnerable due to lack of server-side input validation in the Forum feature, API rating could be manipulated.

CVE-2023-6835 Affected Forum Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.wso2.carbon.apimgt:forum
maven/org.wso2.carbon.apimgt/forum
Maven
≤ 9.0.78

References

NVD — CVE-2023-6835 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-6835
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/wso2/carbon-apimgt/commit/2e9591b72bc286dfcd22b57768e984d867c902ba
Forum Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/wso2/carbon-apimgt
Forum Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/wso2/carbon-apimgt/blob/81e0c0b8ed0bd2dace1e9006be21acbb731c835e/components/forum/org.wso2.carbon.forum/src/main/java/org/wso2/carbon/forum/registry/RegistryForumManager.java#L762
Forum Security Information SECURITY
https://security.docs.wso2.com/en/latest/security-announcements/security-advisories/2021/WSO2-2021-1357

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-6835?
CVE-2023-6835 is a security vulnerability in Forum involving WSO2 API Manager allows attackers to change the API rating under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation.
Which Forum versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: org.wso2.carbon.apimgt:forum.
What version fixes CVE-2023-6835?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is forum affected?
Yes, org.wso2.carbon.apimgt:forum is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-6835?
CVE-2023-6835 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-6835?
CVE-2023-6835 is classified under CWE-20: Improper Input Validation (The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-6835?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.wso2.carbon.apimgt'. 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-w7rx-824v-rgx5",
  "modified" : "2023-12-28T23:06:20Z",
  "published" : "2023-12-15T12:30:25Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-6835" ],
  "summary" : "WSO2 API Manager allows attackers to change the API rating",
  "details" : "Multiple WSO2 products have been identified as vulnerable due to lack of server-side input validation in the Forum feature, API rating could be manipulated.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.wso2.carbon.apimgt:forum"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "9.0.78"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-6835"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/wso2/carbon-apimgt/commit/2e9591b72bc286dfcd22b57768e984d867c902ba"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/wso2/carbon-apimgt"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/wso2/carbon-apimgt/blob/81e0c0b8ed0bd2dace1e9006be21acbb731c835e/components/forum/org.wso2.carbon.forum/src/main/java/org/wso2/carbon/forum/registry/RegistryForumManager.java#L762"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://security.docs.wso2.com/en/latest/security-announcements/security-advisories/2021/WSO2-2021-1357"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-20" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-12-28T23:06:20Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-12-15T10:15:09Z"
  }
}