CVE-2023-31138 DHIS2 Core vulnerable to Improper Access Control with PATCH requests

High 7.1 Published 9 May 2023 Updated 28 Jan 2025

Authenticated users with write access can modify unauthorized related objects via PATCH requests in DHIS2 Core.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Any signed-in user
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: Not needed
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2023-31138?

CVE-2023-31138 is a high-severity missing authorization vulnerability in dhis2-core, published on 9 May 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

DHIS2 Core contains the service layer and Web API for DHIS2, an information system for data capture. Starting in the 2.36 branch and prior to versions 2.37.9.1, 2.38.3.1, and 2.39.1.2, using object model traversal in the payload of a PATCH request, authenticated users with write access to an object may be able to modify related objects that they should not have access to. DHIS2 implementers should upgrade to a supported version of DHIS2 to receive a patch: 2.37.9.1, 2.38.3.1, or 2.39.1.2. It is possible to work around this issue by blocking all PATCH requests on a reverse proxy, but this may cause some issues with the functionality of built-in applications using legacy PATCH requests.

Weakness: CWE-863, CWE-284

Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-31138?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Dhis2 Dhis 2.

How do I fix CVE-2023-31138?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-31138 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade, and check permissions on every request on the server, not only in the interface. More about Missing authorization.

Is CVE-2023-31138 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-31138 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

Also known as GHSA-pwvw-4m67-f4g2.