CVE-2023-7102
Published: 24 December 2023
Summary
CVE-2023-7102 is a critical-severity Use of Unmaintained Third Party Components (CWE-1104) vulnerability in Barracuda Email Security Gateway 300 Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190); ranked in the top 0.7% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
CVE-2023-7102 is a parameter-injection vulnerability in Barracuda Email Security Gateway (ESG) appliances that stems from the use of the third-party Spreadsheet::ParseExcel Perl library. The flaw affects firmware versions 5.1.3.001 through 9.2.1.001; Barracuda subsequently removed the vulnerable code path. The issue carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, reflecting network attackability without authentication or user interaction and full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
An unauthenticated remote attacker can supply a crafted Excel document that triggers the injection when parsed by the affected library, allowing arbitrary command execution on the appliance. Successful exploitation therefore grants an adversary the ability to run code with the privileges of the Barracuda ESG process, typically resulting in full device takeover.
Barracuda’s advisory states that the vulnerable logic has been removed from supported releases and recommends that customers still running the listed firmware versions apply the remediation or migrate to a fixed build. Public proof-of-concept code targeting the underlying Spreadsheet::ParseExcel utility and a detailed Mandiant disclosure are available, while the CVE’s EPSS score remains elevated near 0.82, indicating sustained exploitation interest after publication.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-59286
Vulnerability details
Use of a Third Party library produced a vulnerability in Barracuda Networks Inc. Barracuda ESG Appliance which allowed Parameter Injection.This issue affected Barracuda ESG Appliance, from 5.1.3.001 through 9.2.1.001, until Barracuda removed the vulnerable logic.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
Threat-Actor AttributionAI
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
CVE-2023-7102 enables remote code execution via parameter injection in the public-facing Barracuda ESG Appliance due to a vulnerable third-party Excel parsing library (Spreadsheet::ParseExcel), facilitating exploitation of public-facing applications.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Security groups frequently discuss maintenance status of third-party components, aiding identification and avoidance of unmaintained ones.
Maintaining an accurate, reviewed inventory of all system components enables tracking of third-party software versions and maintenance status, reducing the risk of using unmaintained components.
The maintenance policy requires regular updates and upkeep of systems and third-party components, directly reducing the presence of unmaintained software that attackers can exploit.
Requiring quick access to maintenance support and spare parts after failure necessitates using actively supported components rather than unmaintained third-party ones.
Contact with security communities directly informs personnel of unmaintained components and their vulnerabilities, reducing the likelihood of their continued use.
Threat intelligence sharing directly informs organizations of newly discovered vulnerabilities and exploitation in third-party components, enabling timely updates or replacement before attackers can leverage them.
Resource allocation in investment requests funds regular maintenance, patching, and updates of third-party components.
Organization-wide SCRM policy includes ongoing evaluation of third-party component support lifecycles to avoid unmaintained dependencies.