CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-0361NVD status: Modified

gnutls: Observable Discrepancy

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2023-0361 is a high-severity observable discrepancy vulnerability in gnutls, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.4 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected gnutls versions: gnutls-3.7.6. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.45% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 74% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP to V3.1.5 or a later version.
  2. Update SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFP to V3.1.5 or a later version.
  3. Update SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP to V3.1.5 or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on gitlab.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  5. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Gnutlsgnutlsgnutls-3.7.6Not stated
SiemensSIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFPV3.1.0 up to, but not including, V3.1.5V3.1.5
SiemensSIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFPV3.1.0 up to, but not including, V3.1.5V3.1.5
SiemensSIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFPV3.1.0 up to, but not including, V3.1.5V3.1.5
Red HatEnterprise Linux8.0; 9.0Not stated
DebianDebian Linux10.0Not stated
Fedora ProjectFedora36; 37; 38Not stated
NetAppActive Iq Unified ManagerNot specified in the recordNot stated
NetAppConverged Systems Advisor AgentNot specified in the recordNot stated
NetAppOntap Select Deploy Administration UtilityNot specified in the recordNot stated

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
NoneAvailability is not affected.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.4HighNVD
CVSS 3.17.4HighCISA (ADP)

Official description

A timing side-channel in the handling of RSA ClientKeyExchange messages was discovered in GnuTLS. This side-channel can be sufficient to recover the key encrypted in the RSA ciphertext across a network in a Bleichenbacher style attack. To achieve a successful decryption the attacker would need to send a large amount of specially crafted messages to the vulnerable server. By recovering the secret from the ClientKeyExchange message, the attacker would be able to decrypt the application data exchanged over that connection.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Observable Discrepancy

The product behaves differently or sends different responses under different circumstances in a way that is observable to an unauthorized actor.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Compartmentalize the system to have safe areas where trust boundaries can be unambiguously drawn. Do not allow sensitive data to go outside of the trust boundary and always be careful when interfacing with a compartment outside of the safe area. Ensure that appropriate compartmentalization is built into the system design, and the compartmentalization allows for and reinforces privilege separation functionality. Architects and designers should rely on the principle of least privilege to decide the appropriate time to use privileges and the time to drop privileges.

More Observable Discrepancy vulnerabilities (CWE-203)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Advisories

Patches and release notes

Third-party and government advisories

Other vulnerabilities in gnutls

All gnutls vulnerabilities

Recent Observable Discrepancy vulnerabilities

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