CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-49946NVD status: Modified

Forgejo: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource

CVE-2023-49946 is a critical-severity incorrect permission assignment for critical resource vulnerability in Forgejo, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 1.20.5-1 as the first without the flaw, so updating Forgejo to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.86% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 59% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update Forgejo to 1.20.5-1 or a later version.
  2. Read the advisory on codeberg.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  3. 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
ForgejoForgejobefore 1.20.5-11.20.5-1

Version data comes from NVD's product matching. 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
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:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.

Official description

In Forgejo before 1.20.5-1, certain endpoints do not check whether an object belongs to a repository for which permissions are being checked. This allows remote attackers to read private issues, read private pull requests, delete issues, and perform other unauthorized actions.

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

The underlying weakness: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource

The product specifies permissions for a security-critical resource in a way that allows that resource to be read or modified by unintended actors.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • When using a critical resource such as a configuration file, check to see if the resource has insecure permissions (such as being modifiable by any regular user), and generate an error or even exit the software if there is a possibility that the resource could have been modified by an unauthorized party.
  • Divide the software into anonymous, normal, privileged, and administrative areas. Reduce the attack surface by carefully defining distinct user groups, privileges, and/or roles. Map these against data, functionality, and the related resources. Then set the permissions accordingly. This will allow you to maintain more fine-grained control over your resources.
  • During program startup, explicitly set the default permissions or umask to the most restrictive setting possible. Also set the appropriate permissions during program installation. This will prevent you from inheriting insecure permissions from any user who installs or runs the program.

More Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource vulnerabilities (CWE-732)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other references

Other vulnerabilities in Forgejo

All Forgejo vulnerabilities

Recent Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource vulnerabilities

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