CVE-2023-50292 is a high-severity vulnerability in Apache Solr, a widely used open-source enterprise search platform developed by the Apache Software Foundation. The vulnerability arises from incorrect permission assignment related to the Schema Designer feature introduced in Solr versions 8.10.0 through 8.11.2 and 9.0.0 before 9.3.0. The Schema Designer was designed to facilitate easier configuration and testing of new Schemas and configSets. However, it failed to properly enforce authentication checks on configSets, specifically neglecting the "trust" status that determines whether a configSet was created by an authenticated user. Normally, loading external libraries is restricted to trusted configSets to prevent unauthorized code execution. Due to this flaw, configSets created by unauthenticated users could be loaded by the Schema Designer without proper trust verification, enabling these users to load external libraries dynamically. This behavior could potentially allow remote code execution (RCE) by unauthenticated attackers, as they can inject and execute arbitrary code through malicious configSets. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource), highlighting improper control over dynamically managed code resources. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5 (high), with an attack vector of network (AV:N), no privileges required (PR:N), no user interaction (UI:N), and high confidentiality impact (C:H), but no impact on integrity or availability. The issue was addressed in Apache Solr version 9.3.0, which properly enforces trust checks on configSets used by the Schema Designer, preventing unauthorized external library loading and mitigating the risk of RCE.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2023-50292 can be significant, especially for those relying on Apache Solr for critical search and data indexing functions. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, as the vulnerability primarily impacts confidentiality. Attackers could execute arbitrary code remotely without authentication, potentially gaining access to internal systems or sensitive information indexed by Solr. This could result in data breaches, intellectual property theft, or exposure of personal data protected under GDPR, leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, while integrity and availability are not directly impacted according to the CVSS vector, the presence of arbitrary code execution capabilities could allow attackers to pivot to further attacks affecting these aspects. The vulnerability's network accessibility and lack of required privileges make it attractive for attackers scanning for exposed Solr instances. European organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce, which often deploy Solr for search capabilities, are at particular risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not preclude targeted attacks or future exploitation.

To mitigate CVE-2023-50292, European organizations should: 1) Immediately upgrade Apache Solr installations to version 9.3.0 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. 2) If upgrading is not immediately feasible, restrict network access to Solr instances using firewalls or network segmentation to limit exposure to trusted internal users only. 3) Disable or restrict access to the Schema Designer feature if it is not required, reducing the attack surface. 4) Implement strict authentication and authorization controls around Solr management interfaces and configSet creation to ensure only trusted users can create or modify configSets. 5) Monitor Solr logs and network traffic for unusual activity indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected configSet loads or external library calls. 6) Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability scans to detect outdated Solr versions and configuration weaknesses. 7) Employ application-layer firewalls or runtime application self-protection (RASP) solutions to detect and block suspicious code execution attempts within Solr environments. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on immediate version upgrades, access restrictions, feature disablement, and active monitoring tailored to the specific vulnerability vector.