CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-38551NVD status: Deferred

Connect Secure: Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2023-38551 is a high-severity improper neutralization of CRLF sequences vulnerability in Connect Secure from Ivanti, with a CVSS 3.0 base score of 8.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 22.7R2, 22.5R2.2, 9.1R18.6 as the first without the flaw, so updating Connect Secure to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 63% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Connect Secure to 22.7R2 or 22.5R2.2 or 9.1R18.6, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Read the advisory on forums.ivanti.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
IvantiConnect Secure22.7R2 up to, but not including, 22.7R2; 22.5R2.2 up to, but not including, 22.5R2.2; 9.1R18.6 up to, but not including, 9.1R18.622.7R2, 22.5R2.2, 9.1R18.6

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
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
Confidentiality
LowSome restricted data can be read.
Integrity
LowLimited modification of data is possible.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:H. Scored by CNA (hackerone.com).

Official description

A CRLF Injection vulnerability in Ivanti Connect Secure (9.x, 22.x) allows an authenticated high-privileged user to inject malicious code on a victim’s browser, thereby leading to cross-site scripting attack.

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

The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences

The product uses CRLF (carriage return line feeds) as a special element, e.g. to separate lines or records, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes CRLF sequences from inputs.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Appropriately filter or quote CRLF sequences in user-controlled input.

More Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences vulnerabilities (CWE-93)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Connect Secure

All Connect Secure vulnerabilities

Recent Improper Neutralization of CRLF Sequences vulnerabilities

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