CVE-2023-36460: Mastodon vulnerable to arbitrary file creation through media attachments
First published: Thu Jul 06 2023(Updated: )
Mastodon is a free, open-source social network server based on ActivityPub. Starting in version 3.5.0 and prior to versions 3.5.9, 4.0.5, and 4.1.3, attackers using carefully crafted media files can cause Mastodon's media processing code to create arbitrary files at any location. This allows attackers to create and overwrite any file Mastodon has access to, allowing Denial of Service and arbitrary Remote Code Execution. Versions 3.5.9, 4.0.5, and 4.1.3 contain a patch for this issue.
Credit: security-advisories@github.com
| Affected Software | Affected Version | How to fix |
|---|---|---|
| Mastodon | >=3.5.0<3.5.9 | |
| Mastodon | >=4.0.0<4.0.5 | |
| Mastodon | >=4.1.0<4.1.3 | |
| Mastodon | =3.5.17 | |
| Mastodon | =4.0.13 | |
| Mastodon | =4.1.13 | |
| Mastodon | =4.2.5 |
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Reference Links
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/07/06/4
- https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/commit/dc8f1fbd976ae544720a4e07120d9a91b2722440
- https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/releases/tag/v3.5.9
- https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/releases/tag/v4.0.5
- https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/releases/tag/v4.1.3
- https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/security/advisories/GHSA-9928-3cp5-93fm
- https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/02/critical_vulnerability_in_mastodon_is/
- https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/mastodon-vulnerability-allows-attackers-to-take-over-accounts/
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the vulnerability ID for this Mastodon vulnerability?
The vulnerability ID for this Mastodon vulnerability is CVE-2023-36460.
What is the severity of CVE-2023-36460?
The severity of CVE-2023-36460 is critical.
Which versions of Mastodon are affected by CVE-2023-36460?
Versions 3.5.0 to 3.5.9, 4.0.0 to 4.0.5, and 4.1.0 to 4.1.3 of Mastodon are affected by CVE-2023-36460.
How can attackers exploit CVE-2023-36460?
Attackers can exploit CVE-2023-36460 by using carefully crafted media files to create arbitrary files at any location in Mastodon's media processing code.
Where can I find more information about CVE-2023-36460?
You can find more information about CVE-2023-36460 at the following references: [http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/07/06/4](http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/07/06/4), [https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/commit/dc8f1fbd976ae544720a4e07120d9a91b2722440](https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/commit/dc8f1fbd976ae544720a4e07120d9a91b2722440), [https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/releases/tag/v3.5.9](https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/releases/tag/v3.5.9).
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