Cross-site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks are becoming increasingly prevalent among web applications. CVE-2023-36237 is a recently discovered vulnerability that affects web applications built using Bagisto, a popular open-source e-commerce platform. This vulnerability exists in versions before v.1.5.1 and allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTML script. This long-read post explores the details surrounding CVE-2023-36237, as well as the steps developers can take to protect their Bagisto-based web applications from CSRF attacks.

Vulnerability Details

CVE-2023-36237 is classified as a cross-site request forgery vulnerability. In CSRF attacks, also known as "one-click attacks," an attacker tricks an authenticated user into executing unauthorized actions. When a user visits a malicious website or clicks on a hyperlink, they unknowingly send a forged request to the targeted web application. Because the request looks like it's coming from an authenticated user, the web application processes the request, enabling the attacker to execute arbitrary code and potentially breach the system.

In the case of CVE-2023-36237, attackers who exploit the vulnerability are able to inject arbitrary code into Bagisto-based web applications through a crafted HTML script.

Exploit Details

The primary means of exploiting CVE-2023-36237 is by creating a malicious HTML script and sending it to an authenticated user. When executed, the HTML script will send a request to execute arbitrary code on the target Bagisto application. A sample code snippet illustrating the attack is provided below:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>CSRF Exploit</title>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        function sendCSRFRequest() {
            var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
            xhr.open("POST", "https://target-bagisto-app.com/vulnerable-action";, true);
            xhr.setRequestHeader("Content-Type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded");
            xhr.withCredentials = true;
            xhr.send("parameter=arbitrary_code");
        }
    </script>
</head>
<body onload="sendCSRFRequest()">
</body>
</html>

The above script, when executed by a targeted user, will send a request to the vulnerable endpoint of the Bagisto application ("vulnerable-action"). As a result, the attacker's arbitrary code will be executed.

Further information about CVE-2023-36237 and the associated vulnerability can be found at the following links:

1. Official CVE Details: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-36237
2. Bagisto Vulnerability Disclosure: https://bagisto.com/security/cve-2023-36237/
3. Bagisto GitHub Issue: https://github.com/bagisto/bagisto/issues/1078

Mitigation and Prevention Strategies

To protect against CSRF attacks and address the specific vulnerability highlighted by CVE-2023-36237, developers should take the following steps:

1. Update Bagisto to version 1.5.1 or later: The vulnerability has been addressed in the latest version of the Bagisto e-commerce platform. Ensure that your application is running on an updated version to protect against this and other known vulnerabilities.
2. Use CSRF tokens: Implement CSRF tokens in your web application. These are unique tokens generated by the server and added to requests that perform actions. If a request does not contain the correct token, the server will not process the request.

Conclusion

CVE-2023-36237 highlights the need for developers to stay vigilant against CSRF vulnerabilities and ensure that they regularly update their web applications. By following the outlined mitigation strategies, developers can significantly mitigate the risk of CSRF attacks on their Bagisto-based web applications and maintain a higher level of security for their users.

Timeline

Published on: 02/26/2024 22:15:06 UTC
Last modified on: 08/01/2024 13:44:05 UTC