CVE-2023-22893 Scanner

Strapi is a popular open-source headless content management system (CMS) known for its flexibility, extensibility, and ease of use. It is widely used by developers and businesses of all sizes to build rich, customizable content experiences for web, mobile, and IoT applications. Strapi allows users to quickly set up a powerful and efficient backend that supports dynamic API generation and provides a user-friendly admin panel. It is designed to be secure, scalable, and capable of handling various content types while enabling seamless integration with third-party applications and services. Organizations leverage Strapi to streamline content creation and delivery processes, ensuring consistent and engaging digital experiences. As a versatile CMS, Strapi empowers both technical and non-technical users to manage and optimize their content management workflows.

The Authentication Bypass vulnerability exists in Strapi when used with the AWS Cognito login provider. The issue arises because access or ID tokens generated during the OAuth flow are not verified correctly, which leads to a severe security concern. An attacker can exploit this by forging an ID token signed with the 'None' algorithm, allowing unauthorized access and impersonation. This failure in verification poses a critical security threat when AWS Cognito is used for authentication purposes. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication credentials, significantly increasing the risks associated with its presence. Such bypasses allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to applications and sensitive information.

Technical details of this vulnerability reveal that the exploit leverages the Strapi OAuth callback endpoint used with AWS Cognito. The attacker crafts a request with a specially crafted ID token where the signing algorithm is set to 'None'. The payload includes a JSON object that identifies a user within the application. This crafted request, when processed by Strapi, allows the bypass of authentication checks and provides the attacker all privileges associated with the impersonated user. The vulnerability arises due to improper handling and parsing of JWT tokens during the authentication phase. Once exploited, attackers gain elevated access by masquerading as legitimate users.

The potential impact of this vulnerability is significant, leading to unauthorized access to user accounts and sensitive data. Attackers exploiting this flaw can perform actions as an authenticated user within the affected application, potentially leading to data theft or unauthorized modifications. The risk extends to essential application functionalities, API interactions, and may compromise the overall integrity and confidentiality of the system. Exploiting this vulnerability might also facilitate subsequent attacks such as data enumeration, privilege escalation, or further breaches into integrated components. It significantly affects user trust and the security stance of applications that rely on the affected integration.

REFERENCES

• https://www.ghostccamm.com/blog/multi_strapi_vulns
• https://github.com/strapi/strapi/releases
• https://github.com/ARPSyndicate/cvemon
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-22893