CVE-2023-44487 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the HTTP/2 protocol, which can lead to denial of service (DoS) due to server resource consumption. It was exploited in the wild between August and October 2023. The primary attack vector involves rapidly canceling requests, which resets many streams quickly, overwhelming server resources.
The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.5, categorized as high severity. This score indicates a significant risk to organizations that rely on HTTP/2 for their web services. The urgency for patching this vulnerability is critical as it can lead to service disruptions, impacting user experience and potentially causing revenue loss.
Organizations utilizing affected systems should prioritize remediation efforts to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability. It is crucial to stay informed about the status of known exploits and any recommended patches from vendors.
Given the current threat landscape, organizations must implement robust security measures and continuously monitor for potential exploitation attempts. Engaging with security professionals for guidance on best practices for patch management and incident response is highly advisable.
Vulnerability Details
The HTTP/2 protocol allows a denial of service (server resource consumption) because request cancellation can reset many streams quickly, as exploited in the wild in August through October 2023.
This vulnerability is classified under CWE-400, which signifies an unbounded resource consumption. Organizations should take note of the CVSS score of 7.5 which indicates a high risk level. The affected systems include various implementations of HTTP/2 across multiple vendors.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2023-44487 lies in the way the HTTP/2 protocol handles request cancellations. Attackers may leverage this flaw to initiate rapid request cancellations, leading to excessive resource consumption on targeted servers. The attack vector is primarily through the network, with low complexity and no privileges required for execution.
As a result, the availability impact is rated as high, while confidentiality and integrity impacts remain unaffected. This means that while data security is not compromised, the ability of the service to function as intended is severely impacted.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes service interruptions due to resource exhaustion, which can lead to significant operational disruptions and financial losses. The potential blast radius is extensive, affecting any organization that relies on HTTP/2 for web services, especially those with high traffic volumes.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The urgency is compounded by its inclusion in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, indicating active exploitation in the wild. Implementing necessary mitigations is critical to safeguard against potential denial of service attacks.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | Yes |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
Affected versions include various implementations of HTTP/2, specifically: - HTTP/2.0 implementations - nghttp2 versions prior to 1.57.0 - Netty versions prior to 4.1.100 - Envoy versions 1.24.10 to 1.27.0 inclusive - Jetty versions prior to 9.4.53 and 10.0.0 to 10.0.17 inclusive - Caddy versions prior to 2.7.5 - Go versions prior to 1.20.10 and 1.21.0 to 1.21.3 inclusive - Various versions of Microsoft .NET, Apache Tomcat, and several other products.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should apply vendor patches or updates immediately. Specific remediation steps include: 1. Upgrading to the latest versions of affected software components. 2. Implementing configurations that limit the impact of rapid request resets. 3. Monitoring traffic for unusual patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. For further guidance, organizations may consider engaging in penetration testing to validate their defenses against similar vulnerabilities, as outlined in our penetration testing services for comprehensive security assessments.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for indicators of exploitation attempts, including unusually high numbers of request cancellations or stream resets. Behavioral anomalies that deviate from normal traffic patterns should be investigated thoroughly. Implementing network signatures that detect rapid reset patterns can also enhance defense mechanisms.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2023-44487 highlights the evolving landscape of denial-of-service vulnerabilities and their implications for organizations relying on HTTP/2. This incident underscores the importance of timely patching and proactive security measures. Security teams should note the trend toward rapid resets as a method of attack and adapt their defenses accordingly. For comprehensive assessments and to stay ahead of similar threats, organizations can benefit from engaging in penetration testing and continuous monitoring to enhance their security posture.
Organizations should also consider implementing best practices for security testing to ensure that they are prepared for future vulnerabilities and attacks.
Finally, adopting a strategic approach towards vulnerability management and threat intelligence will significantly bolster an organization's ability to defend against similar attacks.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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