CVE-2023-43665 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting certain versions of Django, a popular web framework. This vulnerability could potentially lead to a denial of service (DoS) attack, impacting the availability of web applications built on the affected Django versions. The issue exists in the django.utils.text.Truncator chars() and words() methods when used with html=True, allowing for a potential DoS attack via certain inputs with very long, potentially malformed HTML text.

How do I know if I'm affected?

If you're using Django, a popular web framework, you might be affected by the vulnerability. This issue could lead to a denial of service (DoS) attack and impacts Django versions 3.2 before 3.2.22, 4.1 before 4.1.12, and 4.2 before 4.2.6. To determine if you're affected, check the version of Django you're using. If it falls within the mentioned ranges, you may be vulnerable to this issue.

What should I do if I'm affected?

If you're affected by the vulnerability, it's crucial to update your Django version to a secure release. For Django 3.2, update to 3.2.22 or later; for 4.1, update to 4.1.12 or later; and for 4.2, update to 4.2.6 or later. Always ensure you're using the latest security patches to protect your web applications.

Is this in CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog?

The CVE-2023-43665 vulnerability, also known as the Django HTML Truncation DoS Vulnerability, is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog. This issue was added to the National Vulnerability Database on November 3, 2023. To address this vulnerability, users should update their Django installations to the latest secure versions and apply any available patches.

Weakness enumeration

The weakness enumeration for this vulnerability is categorized as CWE-1284, which involves improper validation of input in Django, leading to a potential denial of service attack. Updating to secure Django versions helps address this issue.

For more details

CVE-2023-43665, a high-severity vulnerability in Django, can lead to denial of service attacks. To protect your web applications, update to a secure Django version and apply available patches. For a comprehensive understanding of this vulnerability, including its description, severity, technical details, and known affected software configurations, visit the NVD page or the links below.

• Django Archive of Security Issues

• Django Security Releases (1)

• NetApp Product Security Advisory

• Fedora 39 Update: python-django-4.2.6-1.fc39