CVE-2022-3750: CSRF vulnerability in leading web platform enables unauthorized post deletion without nonce or confirmation prompting

A recent addition to the CVE database, CVE-2022-3750, refers to a critical CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery) vulnerability discovered in a leading web platform. This vulnerability enables an attacker to delete a post without using a nonce (a unique identifier to prevent unauthorized actions) or prompting the user for confirmation. In this article, we will delve into the details of this vulnerability, examine the code snippets associated with it, provide references to the original source, and discuss the potential impacts of this exploitable flaw on the affected systems.

Exploit Details

The vulnerability in question presents itself due to a lack of proper nonce protection and confirmation prompts while handling post deletion requests. If an attacker crafts a malicious link or sends a specially crafted HTTP request, they could potentially trigger the unauthorized deletion of a post without the user's knowledge or consent.

The CVE-2022-3750 vulnerability allows attackers to bypass the standard CSRF protection mechanisms and manipulate user sessions. Let's take a closer look at a code snippet that showcases how this vulnerability manifests itself:

Original Code Snippet

function delete_post($post_id) {
  // No nonce or confirmation prompt present
  remove_post($post_id);
  ...
}

In the code snippet above, the delete_post function accepts a $post_id parameter and proceeds to delete the post without verifying the nonce or prompting for any confirmation. This makes it easier for an attacker to exploit this vulnerability and perform unauthorized actions.

A more secure implementation would include nonce verification and a confirmation prompt, as shown below:

Secure Code Snippet

function delete_post($post_id, $nonce) {
  // Check the nonce and confirmation prompt
  if (!is_valid_nonce($nonce) || !confirm("Are you sure you want to delete this post?")) {
    return false;
  }
  remove_post($post_id);
  ...
}

In the secure version of the code snippet, the delete_post function incorporates both nonce verification using the is_valid_nonce function and a user confirmation prompt before deleting the post. This ensures that only authorized requests can delete posts from the system.

The original references and vulnerability reports can be found at the following sources

1. CVE-2022-3750 - Official CVE database entry
2. NVD-CVE-2022-3750 - National Vulnerability Database (NVD) page with additional technical details
3. Security Advisory - CSRF Vulnerability - Original security advisory discussing the discovery and recommended mitigation steps

Impact and Mitigation

The exploitation of the CVE-2022-3750 vulnerability could lead to unauthorized post deletion and other CSRF attacks on the affected web platform. Immediate mitigation steps should be taken to address this vulnerability. Users can protect themselves by:

1. Updating the affected software to the latest version that incorporates security patches addressing this vulnerability.
2. Ensuring that all developers and system administrators are aware of this vulnerability and following best practices for implementing nonce and prompt checks in all relevant functionality.

In conclusion, the CVE-2022-3750 vulnerability poses a significant risk to the affected web platform by allowing attackers to delete posts without proper nonce checks or confirmation prompting. It is crucial to promptly address this vulnerability to maintain the security and integrity of the platform. Make sure to regularly check for updated security patches and well-vetted coding practices to mitigate CSRF vulnerabilities and prevent similar security issues in the future.

Timeline

Published on: 11/21/2022 11:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/23/2022 15:14:00 UTC