Critical Denial of Service Vulnerability in libhtmlcleaner-java
Summary
USN-6683-1: libhtmlcleaner-java vulnerability. Affects libhtmlcleaner-java versions < 2.21-2ubuntu0.1~esm1. Fixed in 2.21-2ubuntu0.1~esm1. How to fix ↓
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Background
libhtmlcleaner-java is a Java library designed for cleaning and parsing HTML documents. It provides functionalities to manipulate HTML content, making it easier for developers to work with web data. However, a recent vulnerability has been discovered that affects its stability and security, potentially leading to application crashes when handling certain HTML documents.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-34624, arises from improper handling of specific HTML documents by the HtmlCleaner library. An attacker could exploit this flaw to craft malicious HTML content that, when processed by the library, could cause a denial of service by crashing the application. This vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for applications relying on libhtmlcleaner-java for HTML processing, as it can lead to unexpected downtimes and service interruptions.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
2.21-2ubuntu0.1~esm1
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade libhtmlcleaner-javaTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If updating the package is not immediately feasible, consider implementing input validation to sanitize HTML documents before processing them with libhtmlcleaner-java. This can help mitigate the risk of denial of service by rejecting potentially harmful HTML content.
Conclusion
The libhtmlcleaner-java vulnerability (CVE-2023-34624) poses a significant risk to applications that utilize this library for HTML processing. It is crucial to update to the latest patched versions to ensure application stability and security. Additionally, implementing workarounds can help mitigate risks until updates can be applied.
See every vulnerability recorded for libhtmlcleaner-java →
FAQ
CVE-2023-34624 is a vulnerability in the libhtmlcleaner-java library that allows attackers to cause a denial of service by crashing applications that process certain HTML documents.
You can use Vulert, which monitors open-source vulnerabilities in your software. By uploading your manifest file, such as package-lock.json, you can check for vulnerabilities without needing to install any software.
Yes, patched versions of libhtmlcleaner-java are available for Ubuntu 18.04, 20.04, and 22.04 LTS. Updating to these versions will resolve the vulnerability.
If exploited, this vulnerability can lead to application crashes, resulting in service interruptions and potential data loss, affecting user experience and trust.
Implement input validation to sanitize HTML documents before processing them with libhtmlcleaner-java. This can help prevent denial of service attacks.
References
Related vulnerabilities
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