CVE-2023-50965 is a critical vulnerability found in the Starnight MicroHttpServer. This vulnerability allows for a stack-based buffer overflow due to improper handling of long URIs in the _ReadStaticFiles function within lib/middleware.c. With a CVSS score of 9.8, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, as it can potentially lead to remote code execution.
The nature of this vulnerability places organizations at an elevated risk, particularly those utilizing the MicroHttpServer in production environments. Published on December 17, 2023, and classified as critical, organizations must address this vulnerability urgently. The known exploit status further underscores the importance of immediate action.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to protect against potential exploitation, as the implications of this vulnerability could result in unauthorized access and significant data breaches.
As of the latest updates, the vulnerability has not been included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, but the presence of a public proof of concept (PoC) indicates that attackers may leverage this vulnerability.
Given the critical nature of CVE-2023-50965, organizations using affected versions of the MicroHttpServer need to be vigilant in monitoring their systems for potential indicators of compromise.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability is specifically found in the MicroHttpServer (Micro HTTP Server) through commit 4398570, where the function _ReadStaticFiles allows a stack-based buffer overflow. This flaw can be exploited through a long Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), leading to potential remote code execution.
The severity of this vulnerability is categorized as critical with a CVSS score of 9.8, indicating high severity due to its potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability affects all versions of the MicroHttpServer prior to the vendor patch.
The Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) classification for this vulnerability is CWE-787, which is associated with improper control of a resource through its lifetime.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2023-50965 stems from a stack-based buffer overflow in the _ReadStaticFiles function. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely due to its attack vector being classified as NETWORK. The attack complexity is low, meaning that it can be executed without advanced skills.
This vulnerability does not require any privileges, nor does it necessitate user interaction to exploit, making it particularly dangerous. The impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all rated as high, indicating that exploitation could lead to unauthorized access and control over the affected systems.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Risk to organizations includes the potential for attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely, which could lead to full system compromise. Given the critical nature of this vulnerability, its exploitation could have severe repercussions, including data breaches and service outages.
The urgency of addressing CVE-2023-50965 is underscored by its high CVSS score and the availability of a public exploit. Organizations should assess their deployment of the MicroHttpServer and prioritize patching to mitigate the risk associated with this vulnerability.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | Yes |
Public PoC | Yes |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerability affects all versions of the MicroHttpServer prior to the vendor patch. Organizations using affected versions should take immediate action to secure their systems.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should apply the latest vendor patches to their MicroHttpServer installations. If a patch is unavailable, consider implementing configuration hardening and network controls to restrict access to the affected components.
Organizations should validate remediation effectiveness through penetration testing to ensure similar vulnerabilities are not present.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor logs for unusual request patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Behavioral anomalies in server response times or error messages may also suggest an ongoing attack.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
CVE-2023-50965 highlights the critical need for organizations to regularly assess their security posture and remain vigilant against emerging vulnerabilities. This case represents a trend towards increasing severity in vulnerabilities within widely used software components.
Security teams can learn from this incident by enhancing their vulnerability management processes and ensuring timely patching of critical vulnerabilities. For further reading on developing an effective vulnerability management program, organizations are encouraged to explore best practices in vulnerability assessment and remediation.
Additionally, organizations should consider implementing penetration testing methodologies to validate the effectiveness of their security controls against such vulnerabilities.
Finally, staying informed about trends in vulnerability exposure is crucial; organizations can benefit from resources like the 2025 vulnerability exposure severity trends report to understand the evolving landscape of security threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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