Vulnerability DatabaseCVE-2023-43770

CVE-2023-43770:
Linux Debian vulnerability analysis and mitigation

Overview

CVE-2023-43770 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability affecting Roundcube webmail software versions before 1.4.14, 1.5.x before 1.5.4, and 1.6.x before 1.6.3. The vulnerability was discovered by Niraj Shivtarkar and publicly disclosed in September 2023. The flaw exists in the handling of linkrefs in plain text email messages, specifically related to the program/lib/Roundcube/rcubestringreplacer.php behavior (Roundcube News, NVD).

Technical details

The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (Medium), with the vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N. The flaw allows attackers to mount cross-site scripting attacks through specially crafted links in plain text email messages, which could lead to information disclosure (Help Net Security).

Impact

The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to information disclosure and potential compromise of sensitive data. For government organizations, particularly in Ukraine, compromised email servers may expose sensitive information regarding war efforts, planning, relationships, and negotiations with partner countries (The Record).

Mitigation and workarounds

The vulnerability has been fixed in Roundcube versions 1.4.14, 1.5.4, and 1.6.3. Organizations are strongly advised to upgrade their Roundcube installations to these or newer versions immediately. The fix was implemented through a patch that addresses the handling of linkrefs in plain text messages (Roundcube News).

Community reactions

CISA has emphasized that these types of vulnerabilities are frequent attack vectors for malicious cyber actors and pose significant risks to the federal enterprise. The vulnerability's exploitation by state-sponsored actors has raised concerns about its use in cyber-espionage campaigns (Help Net Security).