Mitigation Instructions for CVE-2023- 23752

SUBJECT: CVE-2023-23752: Joomla! Improper Access Control Vulnerability - Detailed Mitigation Guide

OVERVIEW:

This vulnerability template details the mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-23752, a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Joomla! versions 4.0.0 through 4.2.7. This vulnerability allows unauthorized access to specific web service endpoints due to an improper access check.

VULNERABILITY DETAILS:

CVE ID: CVE-2023-23752

Published Date: February 16, 2023

Last Modified: January 8, 2024

CVSS v3 Score: 5.3 (MEDIUM) -This vulnerability allows unauthorized access to specific functionalities, potentially leading to information disclosure or limited privilege escalation. However, it is not considered critical as it requires specific circumstances for exploitation.

Affected Software: Joomla! versions 4.0.0 through 4.2.7

Tech Stack (Affected Software): Joomla! Content Management System (CMS)

OVERVIEW:

Joomla! versions 4.0.0 through 4.2.7 are vulnerable to unauthorized access to specific web service endpoints due to an improper access check. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to:

• Access sensitive information, such as website configuration details.
• Take limited control over specific functionalities of the website.

IMPACT:

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could have the following impacts:

• Information disclosure: An attacker could access sensitive information stored on the Joomla! website, such as configuration details or user data.
• Limited privilege escalation: In some cases, an attacker might leverage this vulnerability to gain limited control over specific functionalities of the website.

MITIGATION/SOLUTIONS:

Here are the recommended mitigation strategies:

1. Upgrade Joomla!:

• The most critical mitigation strategy is to upgrade Joomla! to version 4.2.8 or later. This version addresses the vulnerability by implementing a proper access check for the affected web service endpoints. You can find download and upgrade instructions on the Joomla! website

2. Implement additional security measures:

• Restrict access to the web service endpoints: While not a complete mitigation, consider restricting access to the affected web service endpoints using IP address filtering or other access control mechanisms.
• Keep Joomla! and its extensions up to date: Regularly update Joomla! and its extensions to benefit from the latest security fixes.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Joomla! Security Advisory

•  National Vulnerability Database (NVD)

• CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog

CONCLUSION:

Applying the recommended mitigation strategies, especially upgrading Joomla! to the latest version, is crucial to protect your website from exploitation of CVE-2023-23752. Remember to prioritize patching vulnerabilities promptly and implement additional security measures to enhance the overall security posture of your Joomla! website.