CVE-2023-5562 Unsafe default allows for cross-site scripting attacks in KNIME Server and KNIME Business Hub

Medium 6.1 Published 12 Oct 2023 Updated 18 Sep 2024

Unsafe default configuration in KNIME Analytics Platform allows cross-site scripting attacks via unsanitized JavaScript in view nodes.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Over the internet
Victim action needed: A user has to click or open something
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2023-5562?

CVE-2023-5562 is a medium-severity cross-site scripting vulnerability in KNIME Analytics Platform, published on 12 Oct 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

Official description

An unsafe default configuration in KNIME Analytics Platform before 5.2.0 allows for a cross-site scripting attack. When KNIME Analytics Platform is used as an executor for either KNIME Server or KNIME Business Hub several JavaScript-based view nodes do not sanitize the data that is displayed by default. If the data to be displayed contains JavaScript this code is executed in the browser and can perform any operations that the current user is allowed to perform silently.

KNIME Analytics Platform already has configuration options with which sanitization of data can be actived, see https://docs.knime.com/latest/webportal_admin_guide/index.html#html-sanitization-webportal https://docs.knime.com/latest/webportal_admin_guide/index.html#html-sanitization-webportal . However, these are off by default which allows for cross-site scripting attacks.

KNIME Analytics Platform 5.2.0 will enable sanitization by default. For all previous releases we recommend users to add the corresponding settings to the executor's knime.ini.

Weakness: CWE-79

Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-5562?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Knime Knime Analytics Platform.

How do I fix CVE-2023-5562?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-5562 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Escape output for the context it lands in and set a strict Content Security Policy. Upgrading the affected component is the real fix. More about Cross-site scripting.

Is CVE-2023-5562 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-5562 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Sources

Also known as GHSA-4g9c-4jmr-xrqp.