CVE-2023-52084: Winter/wn backend module Cross-Site Scripting Vulnerability

LOW
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-43w4-4j3c-jx29
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CVSS 2.0
CWE-79
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-52084 is a LOW (CVSS 2.0) cross-site scripting vulnerability (CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')) affecting Winter/wn backend module libraries in the Packagist ecosystem. The issue involves winter cms stored xss through backend colorpicker formwidget. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 1.2.4.

CVE-2023-52084 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-52084
GHSA Identifier GHSA-43w4-4j3c-jx29
Severity LOW
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 2.0
CWE Classification CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Affected Product Winter/wn backend module
Package Ecosystem Packagist
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 2.0

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2023-52084

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

winter/wn-backend-module fixed: 1.2.4 
Upgrade winter/wn-backend-module to 1.2.4
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 winter/wn-backend-module

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2023-52084, inspect your project dependencies for Winter/wn backend module:

inspect dependencies for winter/wn-backend-module

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Winter/wn backend module in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 1.2.4), 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-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 Winter/wn backend module, 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

### Impact Users with access to backend forms that include a [ColorPicker FormWidget](https://wintercms.com/docs/v1.2/docs/backend/forms#color-picker) can provide a value that would then be rendered unescaped in the backend form, potentially allowing for a stored XSS attack. By default, only the Brand Settings (`backend.manage_branding`) and Mail Brand Settings (`system.manage_mail_templates`) forms include the `colorpicker` formwidget, however it is also common for theme's to include it on their Theme Customization (`cms.manage_theme_options`) form. Although this was a security issue, it's important to note that its severity is relatively low. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would already need to have trusted access to the Winter CMS backend and they would then need to convince a user with higher privileges than them to visit an affected Form in the backend. These two factors limit the potential harm of this vulnerability. That being said, all users are advised to update to the latest version (1.2.4) to ensure their systems remain secure. ### Patches This issue has been patched in v1.2.4. ### Workarounds Apply https://github.com/wintercms/winter/commit/517f65dfae679b57575b047de13c5af48915a5ba manually if unable to upgrade to v1.2.4.

CVE-2023-52084 Affected Winter/wn backend module Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
1.2.4
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
winter/wn-backend-module
 Packagist
< 1.2.4
1.2.4

References

GitHub Advisory / Wiki ADVISORY
https://github.com/wintercms/winter/security/advisories/GHSA-43w4-4j3c-jx29
NVD — CVE-2023-52084 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-52084
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/wintercms/winter/commit/517f65dfae679b57575b047de13c5af48915a5ba
Winter/wn backend module Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/wintercms/winter

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-52084?
CVE-2023-52084 is a security vulnerability in Winter/wn backend module involving Winter CMS Stored XSS through Backend ColorPicker FormWidget under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting').
Which Winter/wn backend module versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 1.2.4 across affected packages: winter/wn-backend-module.
What version fixes CVE-2023-52084?
Upgrading to 1.2.4 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is winter/wn-backend-module affected?
Yes, winter/wn-backend-module is affected in releases prior to 1.2.4. Upgrade your dependency to 1.2.4 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-52084?
CVE-2023-52084 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 2.0 (LOW) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-52084?
CVE-2023-52084 is classified under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') (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.).
How can I check Packagist dependencies for CVE-2023-52084?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for winter/wn-backend-module'. 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-43w4-4j3c-jx29",
  "modified" : "2024-01-02T14:10:43Z",
  "published" : "2023-12-28T22:32:52Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-52084" ],
  "summary" : "Winter CMS Stored XSS through Backend ColorPicker FormWidget",
  "details" : "### Impact\nUsers with access to backend forms that include a [ColorPicker FormWidget](https://wintercms.com/docs/v1.2/docs/backend/forms#color-picker) can provide a value that would then be rendered unescaped in the backend form, potentially allowing for a stored XSS attack.\n\nBy default, only the Brand Settings (`backend.manage_branding`) and Mail Brand Settings (`system.manage_mail_templates`) forms include the `colorpicker` formwidget, however it is also common for theme's to include it on their Theme Customization (`cms.manage_theme_options`) form.\n\nAlthough this was a security issue, it's important to note that its severity is relatively low. To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would already need to have trusted access to the Winter CMS backend and they would then need to convince a user with higher privileges than them to visit an affected Form in the backend.\n\nThese two factors limit the potential harm of this vulnerability. That being said, all users are advised to update to the latest version (1.2.4) to ensure their systems remain secure.\n\n### Patches\nThis issue has been patched in v1.2.4.\n\n### Workarounds\nApply https://github.com/wintercms/winter/commit/517f65dfae679b57575b047de13c5af48915a5ba manually if unable to upgrade to v1.2.4.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Packagist",
      "name" : "winter/wn-backend-module"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "1.2.4"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/wintercms/winter/security/advisories/GHSA-43w4-4j3c-jx29"
  }, {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-52084"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/wintercms/winter/commit/517f65dfae679b57575b047de13c5af48915a5ba"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/wintercms/winter"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-79" ],
    "severity" : "LOW",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-12-28T22:32:52Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-12-28T23:15:43Z"
  }
}