CVE-2023-49288 : Security Advisory and Response
Squid caching proxy is vulnerable to a Use After Free bug, causing Denial of Service through collapsed forwarding. Learn about impact, affected versions, and mitigation steps.
A detailed analysis of the Denial of Service vulnerability in HTTP Collapsed Forwarding in Squid.
Understanding CVE-2023-49288
This CVE refers to a Use After Free vulnerability in Squid, a popular caching proxy for the Web, which could result in a Denial of Service attack through collapsed forwarding.
What is CVE-2023-49288?
Squid, a widely used caching proxy, is affected by a Use After Free bug that allows attackers to exploit collapsed forwarding, potentially leading to a Denial of Service.
The Impact of CVE-2023-49288
The vulnerability, present in Squid versions 3.5 to 5.9 with specific configurations, can be exploited to disrupt service availability through a Denial of Service attack.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-49288
A closer look at the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
The Use After Free bug in Squid allows attackers to leverage the collapsed forwarding feature, resulting in a Denial of Service attack on affected versions.
Affected Systems and Versions
Squid versions 3.5 to 5.9 with the 'collapsed_forwarding on' configuration are vulnerable to this exploit. Systems without this configuration or with 'collapsed_forwarding off' are not affected.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit the Use After Free bug in Squid by utilizing the collapsed forwarding feature to trigger a Denial of Service incident.
Mitigation and Prevention
Best practices to mitigate the impact of CVE-2023-49288 and safeguard systems from similar vulnerabilities.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are strongly advised to upgrade Squid to version 6.0.1 to eliminate the vulnerability. If upgrading is not possible, removing all 'collapsed_forwarding' lines from the squid.conf file is recommended.
Long-Term Security Practices
Regularly updating software, implementing secure configurations, and monitoring for potential vulnerabilities are key practices to enhance system security.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security advisories and promptly apply patches to ensure that systems are protected against known vulnerabilities.