8.8
HIGH
CVE-2023-38488
Kirby Field Injection Vulnerability
Description

Kirby is a content management system. A vulnerability in versions prior to 3.5.8.3, 3.6.6.3, 3.7.5.2, 3.8.4.1, and 3.9.6 affects all Kirby sites that might have potential attackers in the group of authenticated Panel users or that allow external visitors to update a Kirby content file (e.g. via a contact or comment form). Kirby sites are *not* affected if they don't allow write access for untrusted users or visitors. A field injection in a content storage implementation is a type of vulnerability that allows attackers with content write access to overwrite content fields that the site developer didn't intend to be modified. In a Kirby site this can be used to alter site content, break site behavior or inject malicious data or code. The exact security risk depends on the field type and usage. Kirby stores content of the site, of pages, files and users in text files by default. The text files use Kirby's KirbyData format where each field is separated by newlines and a line with four dashes (`----`). When reading a KirbyData file, the affected code first removed the Unicode BOM sequence from the file contents and afterwards split the content into fields by the field separator. When writing to a KirbyData file, field separators in field data are escaped to prevent user input from interfering with the field structure. However this escaping could be tricked by including a Unicode BOM sequence in a field separator (e.g. `--\xEF\xBB\xBF--`). When writing, this was not detected as a separator, but because the BOM was removed during reading, it could be abused by attackers to inject other field data into content files. Because each field can only be defined once per content file, this vulnerability only affects fields in the content file that were defined above the vulnerable user-writable field or not at all. Fields that are defined below the vulnerable field override the injected field content and were therefore already protected. The problem has been patched in Kirby 3.5.8.3, 3.6.6.3, 3.7.5.2, 3.8.4.1, and 3.9.6. In all of the mentioned releases, the maintainers have fixed the affected code to only remove the Unicode BOM sequence at the beginning of the file. This fixes this vulnerability both for newly written as well as for existing content files.

INFO

Published Date :

July 27, 2023, 3:15 p.m.

Last Modified :

Aug. 3, 2023, 1:27 p.m.

Remotely Exploitable :

Yes !

Impact Score :

5.9

Exploitability Score :

2.8
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2023-38488 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

ID Vendor Product Action
1 Getkirby kirby
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to CVE-2023-38488.

URL Resource
https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/commit/a1e0f81c799ddae1af91cf37216f8ded9cb93540 Patch Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.5.8.3 Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.6.6.3 Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.7.5.2 Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.8.4.1 Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.9.6 Third Party Advisory
https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/security/advisories/GHSA-x5mr-p6v4-wp93 Third Party Advisory

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2023-38488 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2023-38488 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • CVE Modified by [email protected]

    May. 14, 2024

    Action Type Old Value New Value
  • Initial Analysis by [email protected]

    Aug. 03, 2023

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CVSS V3.1 NIST AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
    Changed Reference Type https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/commit/a1e0f81c799ddae1af91cf37216f8ded9cb93540 No Types Assigned https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/commit/a1e0f81c799ddae1af91cf37216f8ded9cb93540 Patch, Third Party Advisory
    Changed Reference Type https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.5.8.3 No Types Assigned https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.5.8.3 Third Party Advisory
    Changed Reference Type https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.6.6.3 No Types Assigned https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.6.6.3 Third Party Advisory
    Changed Reference Type https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.7.5.2 No Types Assigned https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.7.5.2 Third Party Advisory
    Changed Reference Type https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.8.4.1 No Types Assigned https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.8.4.1 Third Party Advisory
    Changed Reference Type https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.9.6 No Types Assigned https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/releases/tag/3.9.6 Third Party Advisory
    Changed Reference Type https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/security/advisories/GHSA-x5mr-p6v4-wp93 No Types Assigned https://github.com/getkirby/kirby/security/advisories/GHSA-x5mr-p6v4-wp93 Third Party Advisory
    Added CWE NIST CWE-863
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:getkirby:kirby:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 3.5.0 up to (excluding) 3.5.8.3 *cpe:2.3:a:getkirby:kirby:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 3.6.0 up to (excluding) 3.6.6.3 *cpe:2.3:a:getkirby:kirby:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 3.7.0 up to (excluding) 3.7.5.2 *cpe:2.3:a:getkirby:kirby:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 3.8.0 up to (excluding) 3.8.4.1 *cpe:2.3:a:getkirby:kirby:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 3.9.0 up to (excluding) 3.9.6
  • CVE Modified by [email protected]

    Jul. 27, 2023

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Changed Description Kirby is a content management system. A vulnerability in versions prior to 3.5.8.3, 3.6.6.3, 3.7.5.2, 3.8.4.1, and 3.9.6 affects all Kirby sites that might have potential attackers in the group of authenticated Panel users or that allow external visitors to update a Kirby content file (e.g. via a contact or comment form). Kirby sites are *not* affected if they don't allow write access for untrusted users or visitors. A field injection in a content storage implementation is a type of vulnerability that allows attackers with content write access to overwrite content fields that the site developer didn't intend to be modified. In a Kirby site this can be used to alter site content, break site behavior or inject malicious data or code. The exact security risk depends on the field type and usage. Kirby stores content of the site, of pages, files and users in text files by default. The text files use Kirby's KirbyData format where each field is separated by newlines and a line with four dashes (`----`). When reading a KirbyData file, the affected code first removed the Unicode BOM sequence from the file contents and afterwards split the content into fields by the field separator. When writing to a KirbyData file, field separators in field data are escaped to prevent user input from interfering with the field structure. However this escaping could be tricked by including a Unicode BOM sequence in a field separator (e.g. `--\xEF\xBB\xBF--`). When writing, this was not detected as a separator, but because the BOM was removed during reading, it could be abused by attackers to inject other field data into content files. Because each field can only be defined once per content file, this vulnerability only affects fields in the content file that were defined above the vulnerable user-writable field or not at all. Fields that are defined below the vulnerable field override the injected field content and were therefore already protected. The problem has been patched in Kirby 3.5.8.3, 3.6.6.3, 3.7.5.2, 3.8.4.1, and Kirby 3.9.6. In all of the mentioned releases, the maintainers have fixed the affected code to only remove the Unicode BOM sequence at the beginning of the file. This fixes this vulnerability both for newly written as well as for existing content files. Kirby is a content management system. A vulnerability in versions prior to 3.5.8.3, 3.6.6.3, 3.7.5.2, 3.8.4.1, and 3.9.6 affects all Kirby sites that might have potential attackers in the group of authenticated Panel users or that allow external visitors to update a Kirby content file (e.g. via a contact or comment form). Kirby sites are *not* affected if they don't allow write access for untrusted users or visitors. A field injection in a content storage implementation is a type of vulnerability that allows attackers with content write access to overwrite content fields that the site developer didn't intend to be modified. In a Kirby site this can be used to alter site content, break site behavior or inject malicious data or code. The exact security risk depends on the field type and usage. Kirby stores content of the site, of pages, files and users in text files by default. The text files use Kirby's KirbyData format where each field is separated by newlines and a line with four dashes (`----`). When reading a KirbyData file, the affected code first removed the Unicode BOM sequence from the file contents and afterwards split the content into fields by the field separator. When writing to a KirbyData file, field separators in field data are escaped to prevent user input from interfering with the field structure. However this escaping could be tricked by including a Unicode BOM sequence in a field separator (e.g. `--\xEF\xBB\xBF--`). When writing, this was not detected as a separator, but because the BOM was removed during reading, it could be abused by attackers to inject other field data into content files. Because each field can only be defined once per content file, this vulnerability only affects fields in the content file that were defined above the vulnerable user-writable field or not at all. Fields that are defined below the vulnerable field override the injected field content and were therefore already protected. The problem has been patched in Kirby 3.5.8.3, 3.6.6.3, 3.7.5.2, 3.8.4.1, and 3.9.6. In all of the mentioned releases, the maintainers have fixed the affected code to only remove the Unicode BOM sequence at the beginning of the file. This fixes this vulnerability both for newly written as well as for existing content files.
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2023-38488 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2023-38488 weaknesses.

Exploit Prediction

EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days.

0.25 }} 0.01%

score

0.65216

percentile

CVSS31 - Vulnerability Scoring System
Attack Vector
Attack Complexity
Privileges Required
User Interaction
Scope
Confidentiality
Integrity
Availability