CVE-2014-2668 in CouchDB
Summary
by MITRE
Apache CouchDB 1.5.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU and memory consumption) via the count parameter to /_uuids.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/09/2026
Apache CouchDB versions 1.5.0 and earlier contain a critical denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers through manipulation of the count parameter in the /_uuids endpoint. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and resource management within the database's UUID generation mechanism, creating a condition where maliciously crafted requests can trigger excessive CPU and memory consumption. The flaw specifically affects the /_uuids endpoint which is designed to generate universally unique identifiers for database operations, but fails to properly constrain the count parameter that dictates how many UUIDs to generate. When an attacker submits a large value for the count parameter, the system processes each request sequentially without adequate resource limits, leading to exponential consumption of computational resources and ultimately system exhaustion.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes it as an uncontrolled resource consumption flaw. The attack vector operates through the HTTP interface of CouchDB where an attacker can send a specially crafted request to the /_uuids endpoint with an inflated count value. This allows the system to allocate memory and consume CPU cycles in proportion to the requested count, effectively creating a resource exhaustion attack that can bring the entire database service to a halt. The vulnerability does not require authentication or special privileges, making it particularly dangerous as any remote user can exploit it to disrupt service availability. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and lacks proper rate limiting or resource consumption monitoring within the UUID generation service.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability can lead to complete service disruption for legitimate users and can be exploited as part of larger attack campaigns targeting database availability. The resource exhaustion occurs gradually but can be amplified through concurrent requests, making it difficult to distinguish from legitimate high-volume usage patterns. Organizations relying on CouchDB for critical data operations face significant risk of service degradation or complete outages, particularly in environments where database availability is paramount for business operations. The vulnerability can be easily automated and scaled, allowing attackers to cause sustained disruption without requiring advanced technical skills or access credentials.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2014-2668 include immediate upgrading to Apache CouchDB version 1.5.1 or later, which contains patches addressing the resource consumption issue in the UUID generation endpoint. Administrators should implement rate limiting controls at the network level to restrict the number of requests to the /_uuids endpoint and establish monitoring for unusual resource consumption patterns. Additional protective measures include configuring firewalls to limit access to the database interface and implementing intrusion detection systems to identify suspicious traffic patterns. Organizations should also review their access controls and ensure that only authorized users can access database administrative endpoints. The fix implemented in subsequent versions includes proper validation of the count parameter and implementation of resource limits that prevent excessive consumption of system resources during UUID generation requests. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of input validation and resource management in database systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers resource exhaustion attacks targeting availability.