CVE-2018-8096 in Seq
Summary
by MITRE
Datalust Seq before 4.2.605 is vulnerable to Authentication Bypass (with the attacker obtaining admin access) via '"Name":"isauthenticationenabled","Value":false' in an api/settings/setting-isauthenticationenabled PUT request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-8096 affects Datalust Seq versions prior to 4.2.605 and represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that allows attackers to gain administrative access to the system. This vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanism within the Seq logging platform, which is widely used for centralized log management and monitoring in enterprise environments. The flaw exists in the application's API endpoint handling where authentication settings can be manipulated through direct API calls without proper authorization checks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a configuration parameter that controls whether authentication is enabled within the Seq system. By sending a specially crafted PUT request to the api/settings/setting-isauthenticationenabled endpoint with the payload containing '"Name":"isauthenticationenabled","Value":false', an attacker can disable the authentication mechanism entirely. This manipulation occurs at the application layer where the system fails to validate the requestor's credentials before executing the authentication setting change. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authorization checks within the API framework, allowing any authenticated user or even unauthenticated attacker to modify critical security settings.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within organizations that rely on Seq for log management and security monitoring. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can obtain full administrative privileges, enabling them to access all log data, modify system configurations, create new users, and potentially escalate their access further within the network infrastructure. This authentication bypass directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise, especially in environments where Seq serves as a central logging repository for critical applications and services. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the logging infrastructure, potentially masking malicious activities and preventing proper incident response.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Seq version 4.2.605 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this authentication bypass vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the Seq API endpoints, particularly limiting administrative access to trusted networks only. Additionally, organizations should monitor their Seq installations for unauthorized configuration changes and implement robust logging of administrative activities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms. Security teams should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication and regular security audits of their logging infrastructure to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.