CVE-2019-10083 in NiFi
Summary
by MITRE
When updating a Process Group via the API in NiFi versions 1.3.0 to 1.9.2, the response to the request includes all of its contents (at the top most level, not recursively). The response included details about processors and controller services which the user may not have had read access to.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-10083 affects Apache NiFi versions 1.3.0 through 1.9.2 and represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the platform's API response handling mechanism. This vulnerability stems from improper access control implementation during Process Group updates, where the system fails to properly sanitize API responses based on user authorization levels. The flaw specifically manifests when administrators or users attempt to modify Process Groups through the REST API interface, creating a scenario where sensitive configuration details leak to unauthorized parties.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the API response construction logic where NiFi's update functionality returns comprehensive metadata about all components within a Process Group without adequate authorization checks. This includes detailed information about processors and controller services that may contain sensitive operational data, configuration parameters, or system architecture details that should remain restricted to authorized personnel. The response structure exposes data at the topmost level of the Process Group hierarchy but fails to recursively evaluate access permissions for nested components, creating a significant security gap in the access control model.
This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can be categorized under CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and CWE-532 (Information Exposure Through Log Files) within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The operational impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it enables potential attackers to gather intelligence about system components, their configurations, and interdependencies that could facilitate more sophisticated attacks. An attacker could leverage this information to map out system architecture, identify vulnerable components, or plan targeted attacks against specific processors or controller services within the NiFi environment.
The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) and T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) as it provides unauthorized access to sensitive system information that could be used to escalate privileges or discover additional attack vectors. Organizations using affected NiFi versions face significant risks including potential compromise of sensitive data flows, unauthorized access to system components, and exposure of internal network architecture details. The flaw particularly affects environments where NiFi serves as a central data processing hub, as the leaked information could reveal critical business processes, data pipelines, and security configurations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected NiFi versions to 1.10.0 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved access control mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring of API access patterns to detect unusual query behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and proper access control configuration should be enforced to limit exposure, while regular security assessments should verify that API responses properly enforce authorization boundaries. The fix implemented by Apache NiFi developers ensures that API responses are properly filtered based on user permissions, preventing unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information about system components that should remain protected within restricted access environments.