Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information Affecting curl package, versions <7.87.0-1


Severity

Recommended
medium

Based on Ubuntu security rating

    Threat Intelligence

    EPSS
    0.1% (43rd percentile)

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  • Snyk ID SNYK-UBUNTU2304-CURL-5463899
  • published 23 Dec 2022
  • disclosed 23 Dec 2022

How to fix?

Upgrade Ubuntu:23.04 curl to version 7.87.0-1 or higher.

NVD Description

Note: Versions mentioned in the description apply only to the upstream curl package and not the curl package as distributed by Ubuntu. See How to fix? for Ubuntu:23.04 relevant fixed versions and status.

A vulnerability exists in curl <7.87.0 HSTS check that could be bypassed to trick it to keep using HTTP. Using its HSTS support, curl can be instructed to use HTTPS instead of using an insecure clear-text HTTP step even when HTTP is provided in the URL. However, the HSTS mechanism could be bypassed if the host name in the given URL first uses IDN characters that get replaced to ASCII counterparts as part of the IDN conversion. Like using the character UTF-8 U+3002 (IDEOGRAPHIC FULL STOP) instead of the common ASCII full stop (U+002E) .. Then in a subsequent request, it does not detect the HSTS state and makes a clear text transfer. Because it would store the info IDN encoded but look for it IDN decoded.

CVSS Scores

version 3.1
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NVD

7.5 high
  • Attack Vector (AV)
    Network
  • Attack Complexity (AC)
    Low
  • Privileges Required (PR)
    None
  • User Interaction (UI)
    None
  • Scope (S)
    Unchanged
  • Confidentiality (C)
    High
  • Integrity (I)
    None
  • Availability (A)
    None
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SUSE

6.5 medium
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Red Hat

7.5 high