CVE-2023-4966 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-4966 was assigned by Citrix and published on October 10, 2023. It involves unauthenticated sensitive information disclosure in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway when configured as a Gateway or AAA virtual server.

Understanding CVE-2023-4966

This vulnerability pertains to the disclosure of sensitive information in specific configurations of NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway, posing a critical threat to confidentiality and integrity.

What is CVE-2023-4966?

The CVE-2023-4966 vulnerability involves the exposure of sensitive information in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway setups functioning as VPN virtual servers, ICA Proxy, CVPN, RDP Proxy, or AAA virtual servers.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4966

The impact of this vulnerability is deemed critical, with high risks associated with confidentiality and integrity. An attacker could potentially access sensitive information without proper authentication, leading to severe consequences for affected systems and data security.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4966

The vulnerability score for CVE-2023-4966 is 9.4 out of 10, indicating a critical severity level with a low attack complexity and network-based attack vector. The confidentiality and integrity impacts are rated high, with no privileged access required for exploitation.

Vulnerability Description

CVE-2023-4966 is categorized under CWE-119, representing the improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer that results in sensitive data exposure in vulnerable Citrix products.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected products include NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway with specific versions, such as NetScaler ADC 14.1, 13.1, 13.0 (various subversions), including FIPS and NDcPP versions. NetScaler Gateway versions 14.1, 13.1, and 13.0 are also impacted.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network without the need for user interaction, making it a critical security concern for organizations utilizing the affected Citrix products.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-4966, immediate actions should be taken to secure the vulnerable systems and implement long-term security practices to mitigate such risks effectively.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations should apply patches or updates provided by Citrix to fix the vulnerability in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway.
Implement access controls and network segmentation to limit exposure to potential attackers.
Conduct security assessments and audits to detect any unauthorized access or sensitive data leaks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Stay updated with security advisories and patches released by Citrix to address any new vulnerabilities promptly.
Regularly review and enhance network security configurations to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.
Educate system administrators and users on best practices for data protection and secure configuration management.

Patching and Updates

Citrix has released patches for the affected versions of NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway. Organizations should prioritize applying these patches to remediate the vulnerability and enhance the overall security posture of their systems.