# CVE-2023-48707: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in codeigniter4/shield

> Attackers with database access can read cleartext secret keys to impersonate users via HMAC authentication in CodeIgniter Shield.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.0 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 24 Nov 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v427-c49j-8w6x

## What is CVE-2023-48707?

CVE-2023-48707 is a medium-severity vulnerability in codeigniter4 shield, published on 24 Nov 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

CodeIgniter Shield is an authentication and authorization provider for CodeIgniter 4. The `secretKey` value is an important key for HMAC SHA256 authentication and in affected versions was stored in the database in cleartext form. If a malicious person somehow had access to the data in the database, they could use the key and secretKey for HMAC SHA256 authentication to send requests impersonating that corresponding user. This issue has been addressed in version 1.0.0-beta.8. Users are advised to upgrade. There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-48707?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including codeigniter4/shield. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `codeigniter4/shield` | Packagist | All versions | 1.0.0-beta.8 |
| `codeigniter4/shield` | Packagist | All versions | 1.0.0-beta.8 |

Products: Codeigniter Shield.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-48707?

Upgrade codeigniter4/shield to 1.0.0-beta.8 or later.

## Is CVE-2023-48707 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-48707 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in codeigniter4 shield

- [CVE-2023-27580](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27580/): CodeIgniter Shield Password Shucking Vulnerability (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2023-48708](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-48708/): Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log in codeigniter4/shield (medium 5.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-48707 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-48707 is a medium-severity vulnerability in codeigniter4 shield, published on 24 Nov 2023. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-48707 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- codeigniter4/shield (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 1.0.0-beta.8
- codeigniter4/shield (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 1.0.0-beta.8

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-48707/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-48707/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-48707
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-48707
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-48707

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-48707/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.