CVE-2018-5559 in Komand
Summary
by MITRE
In Rapid7 Komand version 0.41.0 and prior, certain endpoints that are able to list the always encrypted-at-rest connection data could return some configurations of connection data without obscuring sensitive data from the API response sent over an encrypted channel. This issue does not affect Rapid7 Komand version 0.42.0 and later versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5559 affects Rapid7 Komand version 0.41.0 and earlier, representing a critical data exposure flaw in the platform's handling of encrypted connection configurations. This issue manifests within specific API endpoints designed to list connection data, where the system fails to properly sanitize sensitive information before returning responses to authorized users. The flaw occurs despite the API communications being transmitted over encrypted channels, creating a false sense of security that proves misleading in practice. The vulnerability specifically impacts how the system processes and returns connection data that should remain obscured due to its encrypted-at-rest nature, exposing potentially sensitive configuration details to authenticated users who should not have access to such information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the Komand platform's API response handling mechanisms. When certain endpoints process requests for connection data, they fail to properly filter or obscure sensitive fields within the returned JSON payloads, even though the underlying data is designed to be encrypted at rest. This represents a classic case of insufficient data masking or redaction, where the system assumes that encrypted transmission over secure channels provides sufficient protection without proper application-level data sanitization. The vulnerability falls under CWE-200, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information, and demonstrates how security controls can be layered incorrectly, with transport-level encryption being mistaken for application-level data protection. The flaw essentially creates a data leakage scenario where authorized users can access connection parameters that should remain hidden, potentially exposing credentials, connection strings, or other sensitive configuration elements that could be exploited by malicious actors with legitimate access privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential privilege escalation and lateral movement opportunities within compromised environments. An attacker with legitimate access to the Komand platform could leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive connection information that might reveal access credentials for other systems, database connections, or cloud service integrations. The exposure of connection data could enable further attacks against connected systems, as the leaked information might include authentication tokens, service endpoints, or configuration parameters that could be used to gain deeper access to the underlying infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on Komand for security orchestration and automation, as the compromised connection data could provide pathways to critical systems that are protected by the same platform. The impact is compounded by the fact that the vulnerability exists in versions prior to 0.42.0, meaning organizations that have not upgraded their Komand installations remain at risk, and the issue could potentially be exploited to compromise entire security automation workflows.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5559 center primarily on immediate version upgrades to 0.42.0 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the data sanitization flaw. Organizations should also implement comprehensive monitoring of API endpoints that handle connection data, particularly focusing on unusual access patterns or unauthorized data retrieval attempts. The remediation process requires careful review of existing connection configurations and sensitive data handling procedures to ensure that no previously exposed information remains accessible. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of all API responses containing connection data to verify that sensitive fields are properly obscured before transmission. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional access controls and least-privilege principles for connection data access, ensuring that only authorized personnel with legitimate business needs can retrieve such information. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper data sanitization at all levels of application security and demonstrates how transport-level security measures cannot substitute for application-level data protection controls. The issue also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials and valid accounts, as the exposure of connection data could enable adversaries to obtain credentials for accessing other systems within the network. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly detect and respond to potential exploitation of this vulnerability, particularly in environments where Komand is used for security automation and orchestration tasks.