CVE-2023-36462: Mastodon's verified profile links can be formatted in a misleading way

Published Jul 6, 2023
·
Updated

Mastodon is a free, open-source social network server based on ActivityPub. Starting in version 2.6.0 and prior to versions 3.5.9, 4.0.5, and 4.1.3, an attacker can craft a verified profile link using specific formatting to conceal arbitrary parts of the link, enabling it to appear to link to a different URL altogether. The link is visually misleading, but clicking on it will reveal the actual link. This can still be used for phishing, though, similar to IDN homograph attacks. Versions 3.5.9, 4.0.5, and 4.1.3 contain a patch for this issue.

Affected Software

3 affected components
Joinmastodon Mastodon>=2.6.0<3.5.9
Joinmastodon Mastodon>=4.0.0<4.0.5
Joinmastodon Mastodon>=4.1.0<4.1.3

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.5.9
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.0.5
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.1.3

Event History

Jul 6, 2023
CVE Published
via MITRE·07:16 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·07:16 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·08:15 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2023-36462?

CVE-2023-36462 is a vulnerability in Mastodon, a free open-source social network server based on ActivityPub, that allows an attacker to craft a verified profile link using specific formatting to conceal arbitrary parts of the link.

2

How severe is CVE-2023-36462?

CVE-2023-36462 has a severity score of 5.4, which is considered medium.

3

Which software versions are affected by CVE-2023-36462?

Mastodon versions 2.6.0 to 3.5.9, 4.0.0 to 4.0.5, and 4.1.0 to 4.1.3 are affected by CVE-2023-36462.

4

How can I fix CVE-2023-36462?

You can fix CVE-2023-36462 by upgrading your Mastodon server to version 3.5.9, 4.0.5, or 4.1.3.

5

Is there any additional information available about CVE-2023-36462?

Yes, you can find more information about CVE-2023-36462 in the GitHub links: [link1](https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/commit/610731b03dfcadd887078cb0399f4e514aa1931c), [link2](https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/releases/tag/v3.5.9), [link3](https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/releases/tag/v4.0.5).

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CVE-2023-36462 - Mastodon's verified profile links can be formatted in a misleading way - SecAlerts