Appsecure logo

CVE-2023-6378: High Vulnerability in QOS Logback

A high-severity serialization vulnerability in QOS Logback could lead to Denial-Of-Service attacks. Organizations should prioritize patching to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.

HIGHCVSS 7.1 · Published November 29, 2023

Not a customer? See how AppSecure simulates real world attacks to protect your infrastructure.

Speak to Experts

CVE-2023-6378 is a high-severity vulnerability found in the QOS Logback framework, specifically in the logback receiver component. It allows attackers to execute Denial-Of-Service (DoS) attacks by sending poisoned data. With a CVSS score of 7.1, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations utilizing affected versions of Logback. The urgency for remediation is underscored by its potential impact on availability, making it critical for organizations to address this vulnerability promptly.

The vulnerability was published on November 29, 2023, and has been classified by the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) as CWE-502, indicating a serialization vulnerability. With an attack vector categorized as local and low complexity, this vulnerability can be exploited without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges, further amplifying its threat level.

Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-6378. The exploitability score indicates a high likelihood of exploitation, and while no public proof of concept has been reported, the risk remains significant.

Effective remediation is essential to protect systems from potential threats. Continuous monitoring and timely updates can help organizations safeguard their infrastructures from such vulnerabilities.

Vulnerability Details

The official description of CVE-2023-6378 states: "A serialization vulnerability in logback receiver component part of logback version 1.4.11 allows an attacker to mount a Denial-Of-Service attack by sending poisoned data." This vulnerability is categorized under high severity with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 as per the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) metrics.

The attack vector is network-based, and the impact includes a high availability risk, while both confidentiality and integrity impacts are marked as none. The affected product, Logback, has versions from 1.2.0 to 1.4.11 that are susceptible, necessitating immediate attention from users of these versions.

Logback versions 1.2.0 to 1.2.12, 1.3.0 to 1.3.12, and 1.4.0 to 1.4.11 are vulnerable. The vulnerability was disclosed on November 29, 2023.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of CVE-2023-6378 lies in the serialization mechanism of the logback receiver component. This flaw allows attackers to manipulate serialized data, leading to potential DoS attacks. The attack complexity is low, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability without significant effort. As it requires no privileges or user interaction, the barrier to exploiting this vulnerability is minimal.

The confidentiality and integrity impacts are rated as none, but the availability impact is rated high, emphasizing the risk of service disruption. The local attack vector further indicates that an attacker needs to have access to the local system hosting the vulnerable component.

Risk & Impact Analysis

The real-world deployment risk associated with CVE-2023-6378 is significant, particularly for organizations relying on the QOS Logback framework for logging operations. Given the high availability impact, a successful exploitation could lead to service outages, affecting business continuity and reliability.

Organizations should be aware of the blast radius potential; the impact could extend beyond the compromised system to affect other interconnected services. This vulnerability highlights the need for thorough risk assessments and proactive measures to bolster security postures.

Exploitation Status

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

No

Public PoC

No

Actively Exploited

No

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

Logback versions affected by CVE-2023-6378 include all versions from 1.2.0 up to, but not including, 1.2.13; from 1.3.0 up to, but not including, 1.3.12; and from 1.4.0 up to, but not including, 1.4.12.

Mitigation & Remediation

Organizations should prioritize patching immediately by upgrading to the latest version of Logback that is not affected by this vulnerability. Regular updates and maintenance are essential to ensure that systems remain secure against known vulnerabilities.

For those unable to apply patches immediately, implementing network controls and monitoring can help mitigate potential risks. Configuration hardening and security assessments can also reduce exposure to attacks.

Organizations should validate remediation through penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses.

Detection Guidance

Monitoring logs for unusual serialization activities and analyzing request patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should establish thresholds for acceptable data patterns and alert on deviations that could signify an attack.

Behavioral anomalies in log processing could indicate an active exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, monitoring network traffic for unexpected spikes during processing can serve as an indicator of compromise.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

CVE-2023-6378 represents a critical reminder of the importance of robust serialization mechanisms in software development. Organizations should recognize the pattern of serialization vulnerabilities and implement comprehensive testing strategies to mitigate such risks in the future.

The low EPSS score of 0.006 indicates that while the immediate threat may be low, the potential for exploitation remains, especially in environments where vulnerable versions are deployed. Security teams should leverage this insight to prioritize their patch management and vulnerability remediation efforts.

For further guidance on managing vulnerabilities, organizations can review our vulnerability management program and engage in proactive security testing to enhance their defenses.

Organizations should also consider our penetration testing methodology for identifying potential weaknesses and ensuring robust security posture.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

Latest CVEs. Recently published vulnerabilities from the NVD database.

View all vulnerabilities
CVE IDSeverity
CVE-2025-65418HIGH
CVE-2025-65417MEDIUM
CVE-2025-65416MEDIUM
CVE-2025-65415MEDIUM
CVE-2025-61314HIGH

Protect Your Business with Hacker-Focused Approach.