CVE-2023-38322 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
CVE-2023-38322 is a vulnerability in OpenNDS Captive Portal that can be exploited to trigger a DoS condition. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.
An issue was discovered in OpenNDS Captive Portal before version 10.1.2, leading to a DoS condition due to a NULL pointer dereference triggered by a crafted GET HTTP request without the User-Agent header.
Understanding CVE-2023-38322
OpenNDS Captive Portal before version 10.1.2 is affected by a vulnerability that allows for a DoS attack when a specific condition is met during the authentication process.
What is CVE-2023-38322?
CVE-2023-38322 is a vulnerability in OpenNDS Captive Portal that can be exploited by sending a specially crafted HTTP request without the required User-Agent header, resulting in crashing the service.
The Impact of CVE-2023-38322
The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to a Denial-of-Service (DoS) condition, disrupting the normal operation of OpenNDS Captive Portal and potentially affecting its availability.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-38322
The vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and exploitation mechanism are outlined below.
Vulnerability Description
The issue involves a do_binauth NULL pointer dereference that occurs during the authentication of a client when a crafted GET HTTP request with a missing User-Agent HTTP header is sent.
Affected Systems and Versions
All versions of OpenNDS Captive Portal before 10.1.2 are affected by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
This vulnerability can be triggered only when the BinAuth option is set, and the client is in the process of being authenticated.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2023-38322 and prevent potential exploitation, consider the following steps and best practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update OpenNDS Captive Portal to version 10.1.2 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor network traffic for any suspicious activity that could indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch the software to address known vulnerabilities and improve overall security posture.
- Implement strong access controls and authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access and exploitation.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security updates and patches released by OpenNDS to quickly address any new vulnerabilities and ensure the system's security.