CVE-2023-2110 : What You Need to Know

This CVE-2023-2110 was published by STAR Labs on August 19, 2023. It relates to a vulnerability in Obsidian desktop application versions before 1.2.8, impacting Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms. The vulnerability, named "Obsidian Local File Disclosure," allows a crafted webpage to access local files and exfiltrate them to remote web servers.

Understanding CVE-2023-2110

Obsidian, a note-taking application, had a security flaw in handling paths, which could be exploited by malicious actors to access sensitive local files and transfer them to external servers.

What is CVE-2023-2110?

The CVE-2023-2110 vulnerability arises from improper path handling in Obsidian desktop versions before 1.2.8. By using a crafted webpage, threat actors could potentially access local files through the application and then send them remotely via a particular command.

The Impact of CVE-2023-2110

The impact of CVE-2023-2110 is classified as high severity. Exploiting this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to confidential information, compromise of data integrity, and potential leakage of sensitive files from users' systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-2110

The vulnerability is identified as "CAPEC-597 Absolute Path Traversal" and associated with CWE-22, "Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')." It has a CVSSv3.1 base score of 8.2, indicating a high-risk level.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Obsidian versions before 1.2.8 allows malicious actors to access local files and exfiltrate them to remote servers by exploiting improper path handling mechanisms in the application.

Affected Systems and Versions

Obsidian desktop versions less than 1.2.8 on Windows, Linux, and macOS are affected by this security flaw.

Exploitation Mechanism

Threat actors can exploit the vulnerability by creating a crafted webpage that triggers the improper path handling in Obsidian, enabling unauthorized access to local files and their exfiltration to remote servers.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-2110 and prevent potential exploitation, users and organizations should take immediate steps and implement long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Obsidian desktop to version 1.2.8 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid opening suspicious files or content from untrusted sources in the application.
Regularly monitor for security updates and patches from the software vendor.

Long-Term Security Practices

Educate users about safe browsing practices and the risks associated with opening unknown files.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the reach of potential attacks.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Users of Obsidian should ensure they regularly update the application to the latest version available to protect against known vulnerabilities and security risks. Stay informed about security advisories and releases from the vendor to maintain a secure environment.