CVE-2013-7259 in Neo4J
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in Neo4J 1.9.2 allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that execute arbitrary code, as demonstrated by a request to (1) db/data/ext/GremlinPlugin/graphdb/execute_script or (2) db/manage/server/console/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7259 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting Neo4J version 1.9.2. This vulnerability resides within the database management system's web interface and authentication mechanisms, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on Neo4J for their data infrastructure. The flaw specifically targets the administrative console and Gremlin plugin endpoints, which are essential components for database administration and graph query execution. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms in these administrative interfaces, allowing malicious actors to craft forged requests that appear legitimate to the Neo4J server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the lack of anti-CSRF tokens or other validation mechanisms in the targeted endpoints. When administrators access the Neo4J management console or execute Gremlin scripts through the affected interfaces, the system fails to verify that requests originate from authenticated users with proper authorization. This absence of validation creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate authenticated sessions and execute arbitrary code with administrative privileges. The vulnerability affects both the GremlinPlugin endpoint for script execution and the server console endpoint, providing attackers with multiple vectors for exploitation. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it allows remote attackers to hijack administrator sessions without requiring knowledge of authentication credentials, relying instead on session manipulation and request forgery techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the Neo4J database instance. Once exploited, attackers can execute arbitrary code, modify database schemas, access sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised database as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects organizations that expose their Neo4J instances to untrusted networks or have administrators who browse malicious websites while logged into the database management interface. The consequences include potential data breaches, unauthorized access to critical business information, and complete compromise of the database infrastructure. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations and significant financial losses due to unauthorized data access or manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-7259 require immediate implementation of CSRF protection measures across all administrative endpoints. Organizations should implement anti-CSRF tokens that are generated per session and validated for each request to prevent unauthorized execution of administrative functions. The recommended approach includes deploying proper session management controls, implementing request origin validation, and ensuring that all administrative interfaces require explicit user confirmation for critical operations. Security patches should be applied immediately to upgrade to Neo4J versions that address this vulnerability, as the original 1.9.2 release contains no built-in protection against CSRF attacks. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of administrative interfaces to trusted networks only, reducing the attack surface for potential CSRF exploitation. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their database management interfaces and implement monitoring solutions to detect suspicious administrative activities that may indicate successful CSRF attacks.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique under the 'Persistence' and 'Privilege Escalation' tactics, where attackers leverage web application vulnerabilities to gain elevated system access. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing comprehensive security controls in database management interfaces, as these components often serve as primary attack vectors for sophisticated cyber threats targeting enterprise infrastructure.