CVE-2023-27578 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Galaxy, an open-source platform for data analysis, where all supported versions prior to 22.01, 22.05, and 23.0 are affected by an insufficient permission check. The issue allows unauthorized modification of pages/visualizations, posing a critical risk.

Understanding CVE-2023-27578

This CVE highlights a security flaw in Galaxy that can be exploited by attackers to unauthorizedly modify or delete any Galaxy Visualization or Page if they possess the encoded ID. Additionally, they can copy or import any Galaxy Visualization with the relevant ID.

What is CVE-2023-27578?

CVE-2023-27578 is classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-863 (Incorrect Authorization). It has a CVSSv3.1 base score of 9.1, indicating a critical severity level due to high integrity impact and availability impact.

The Impact of CVE-2023-27578

The impact of this CVE is severe as it allows attackers to manipulate Galaxy visualizations and pages without proper authorization, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized data modifications, and data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-27578

This section provides more in-depth information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Galaxy arises from an insufficient permission check, enabling attackers to carry out unauthorized actions on Galaxy visualizations and pages by exploiting the lack of proper access controls.

Affected Systems and Versions

All supported versions of Galaxy prior to 22.01, 22.05, and 23.0 are affected by this vulnerability. Unsupported versions may also be vulnerable if the functionality of Visualizations/Pages exists.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by knowing the encoded ID of a Galaxy Visualization or Page, allowing them to modify, delete, copy, or import these elements without proper authorization.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-27578, several immediate steps can be taken to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the available patches for versions 22.01, 22.05, and 23.0.
Ensure all Galaxy server processes are restarted after patch implementation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Galaxy to the latest versions to ensure security patches are applied promptly.
Implement strict access controls and authorization mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to visualizations and pages.

Patching and Updates

Patches are available for versions 22.01, 22.05, and 23.0, addressing the insufficient permission check vulnerability. It is crucial to apply these patches promptly and restart all Galaxy server processes to enforce the necessary security measures.