CVE-2023-47691 - Missing Authorization Vulnerability in Podlove Web Player (n/a to 5.7.3)

Podlove Web Player is a popular HTML5 based audio and video player heavily used for podcast integration on numerous websites. A security flaw has been discovered in Podlove Web Player versions from n/a to 5.7.3. This post will detail the missing authorization vulnerability (CVE-2023-47691), sample code snippets, references to the original report, and exploit details. The vulnerability could potentially expose sensitive data or allow unauthorized users to access restricted features.

The Details

A missing authorization vulnerability was discovered in Podlove Web Player, which could be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to restricted features or sensitive data, depending on the implementation. This flaw stems from certain security checks that were not properly implemented in the player. Since authorization was missing, an attacker could manipulate data that should have been protected.

The following code snippet is a sample of vulnerable code in Podlove Web Player

// simplified example of a vulnerable code
app.post('/privateData', (req, res) => {
  const data = req.body.data;
  // … data processing …
  res.send(data);
});

In this example, the application accepts user input ("data") without properly checking if the user is authorized to access this information. Ideally, an authorization check should be included to ensure only authorized users can interact with the data.

Example of a secure implementation could look like

// example of a safer implementation
app.post('/privateData', (req, res) => {
  if (!req.user || !req.user.isAuthorized) {
    res.status(403).send('Access Denied');
    return;
  }

  const data = req.body.data;
  // … data processing …
  res.send(data);
});

In this improved implementation, the application checks if a user is authorized (indicated by req.user.isAuthorized) before allowing access to the requested data.

Exploit Details

An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability by crafting a request to access restricted features or data in the Podlove Web Player. This may be done using various tools or scripts, which could send malicious requests to the application, bypassing its security mechanisms. Once the exploit is successful, the attacker would have unauthorized access to sensitive data or features, leading to data manipulation, theft or unauthorized actions.

The original report of this vulnerability can be found at

- CVE-2023-47691
- Podlove Web Player GitHub Issue

Recommendations

If you're using Podlove Web Player version n/a to 5.7.3, it is highly recommended to update to the latest version which contains a fix for this vulnerability. Additionally, ensure that proper security checks, like authorization, are implemented across all user-accessible endpoints in your applications.

Conclusion

The missing authorization vulnerability in Podlove Web Player is a notable security flaw that could expose sensitive data or features to unauthorized users. As a developer, utilizing the latest version of the player and implementing proper authorization checks can help mitigate the risk of exploitation. Stay vigilant and proactive about security to keep your applications and users safe.

Timeline

Published on: 03/07/2024 14:15:46 UTC
Last modified on: 03/08/2024 14:02:57 UTC