Overview
The cybersecurity vulnerability CVE-2023-45233 is a significant flaw identified in EDK2’s Network Package. The vulnerability, which affects the parsing of a PadN option in the IPv6 Destination Options header, can allow an attacker to execute an infinite loop, leading to unauthorized access and potential loss of system availability. This vulnerability is particularly concerning due to the potential for system compromise or data leakage.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2023-45233
Severity: High, 7.5 CVSS Score
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise, unauthorized access, and data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
EDK2’s Network Package | All versions prior to patch
How the Exploit Works
An attacker can take advantage of this vulnerability by crafting and sending a specially designed IPv6 packet with a modified PadN option in the Destination Options header. The network package’s flawed implementation leads to an infinite loop while parsing the packet. This causes the system to become unresponsive and potentially allows unauthorized access, opening the path for data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
This is a conceptual example of how an attacker might craft the malicious IPv6 packet:
POST /vulnerable/endpoint HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: application/ipv6
{
"IPv6_header": {
"destination_options": {
"PadN_option": "malicious_payload"
}
}
}In this example, the “malicious_payload” in the PadN option triggers the infinite loop vulnerability.
Mitigation
The primary method of mitigation is to apply the patch provided by the vendor. In the interim, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can offer temporary mitigation against potential exploitation of this vulnerability.
