CVE-2023-47797 is a critical reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability present in Liferay Portal versions 7.4.3.94 through 7.4.3.95. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML via the `p_l_back_url_title` parameter on a content page's edit page.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 9.6, indicating a critical severity level. The high score reflects the potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as well as the low complexity and lack of required privileges for exploitation.
Risk to organizations includes data exposure and unauthorized actions performed by attackers leveraging this vulnerability. As this issue affects widely used versions of Liferay Portal, organizations utilizing these versions should act swiftly.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The urgency is underscored by the potential for significant impact if the vulnerability is exploited.
Vulnerability Details
Liferay Portal 7.4.3.94 through 7.4.3.95 contains a reflected XSS vulnerability, classified as CWE-79. The CVSS score from Liferay indicates a critical severity, while the NVD provides a lower score of 6.1, categorized as medium. The differences in scoring highlight the context and impact specifics.
The primary attack vector is network-based, requiring user interaction with the vulnerable page. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to execute scripts in the context of the user's session, leading to unauthorized access or data manipulation.
The vulnerability was published on November 17, 2023, and organizations should ensure they have the latest version of Liferay Portal to mitigate risks.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability is inadequate input validation on the `p_l_back_url_title` parameter, which fails to sanitize user inputs. This oversight allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that the application executes in the browser of users interacting with the affected page.
The attack complexity is low, with no special privileges required for exploitation. User interaction is necessary, meaning that the user must click a crafted link or visit a manipulated page.
The impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are high. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, manipulation of content, and potential service disruption.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The deployment of Liferay Portal with this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations. The potential for attackers to exploit this XSS vulnerability means that sensitive data could be exposed or manipulated, resulting in reputational damage and financial loss.
Given the critical CVSS score and the fact that it is not currently included in the KEV catalog, organizations must take immediate action. The absence of a public exploit further emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to secure their applications.
Organizations should schedule remediation based on their patch cycles but prioritize addressing this vulnerability immediately due to its critical nature.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
This vulnerability affects Liferay Portal versions 7.4.3.94 to 7.4.3.95. Organizations running these versions should take immediate steps to apply available patches or upgrades.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should apply the latest patches provided by Liferay. The specific version to upgrade to is not stated but should be the latest stable release that addresses this issue.
If patches are not available, organizations should implement input validation and sanitization on user inputs, especially for parameters like `p_l_back_url_title`. Configuration hardening and network controls should also be considered.
Organizations may address this issue in their routine maintenance, but should prioritize it given the critical nature of the CVE.
Penetration testing should be considered to validate the effectiveness of remediation efforts.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual activities related to the `p_l_back_url_title` parameter. Behavioral anomalies in user sessions, such as unexpected redirects or content modifications, should be investigated.
Network signatures that detect attempts to exploit this vulnerability may also be useful in identifying potential attacks.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2023-47797 highlights the ongoing threat posed by XSS vulnerabilities in web applications. Security teams must remain vigilant and prioritize input validation and user input sanitization as fundamental security practices.
The trends show that attackers are increasingly targeting web applications through XSS vulnerabilities, necessitating that organizations adopt a proactive security posture.
For further insights and best practices regarding application security, organizations can explore our resources on web application penetration testing and conduct regular security assessments.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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