CVE-2013-3969 in MongoDB
Summary
by MITRE
The find prototype in scripting/engine_v8.h in MongoDB 2.4.0 through 2.4.4 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (uninitialized pointer dereference and server crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via an invalid RefDB object.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3969 represents a critical security flaw in MongoDB's V8 JavaScript engine integration, specifically within the find prototype implementation. This issue affects MongoDB versions 2.4.0 through 2.4.4 and demonstrates a classic uninitialized pointer dereference vulnerability that can be exploited by authenticated remote attackers to compromise system integrity. The vulnerability resides in the scripting/engine_v8.h file, which serves as the interface between MongoDB's database operations and the V8 JavaScript engine used for server-side scripting capabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the RefDB object, which is part of MongoDB's internal database reference management system. When an authenticated user submits a malformed RefDB object through the find operation, the system attempts to dereference an uninitialized pointer within the V8 engine's memory management structure. This flaw stems from inadequate validation of input parameters before processing, creating a path for attackers to trigger memory corruption conditions. The vulnerability's classification as a prototype-based issue indicates that it affects the method resolution and object inheritance mechanisms within the JavaScript engine's execution context.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-3969 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling remote code execution, making it particularly dangerous for production environments. A successful exploitation can result in complete server compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the MongoDB process. This creates a significant risk for database administrators as the vulnerability can be leveraged to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify database contents, or establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure. The combination of denial of service and remote code execution capabilities makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to malicious actors seeking to exploit database systems.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which addresses null pointer dereference conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript-based execution. The attack vector requires authentication, which means that the vulnerability is not directly exploitable from external networks without proper credentials, but it does represent a privilege escalation risk for authenticated users. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to MongoDB versions 2.4.5 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the uninitialized pointer dereference issue. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit the potential impact of authenticated attacks, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns in database operations that might indicate exploitation attempts.