CVE-2021-44451 in Superset
Summary
by MITRE • 02/01/2022
Apache Superset up to and including 1.3.2 allowed for registered database connections password leak for authenticated users. This information could be accessed in a non-trivial way. Users should upgrade to Apache Superset 1.4.0 or higher.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2022
Apache Superset version 1.3.2 and earlier contained a critical security flaw that allowed authenticated users to access database connection passwords through improperly secured API endpoints. This vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient access control and information disclosure, where registered users could exploit the system to retrieve credentials that should have remained protected. The flaw existed in the database connection management functionality where password fields were being exposed through API responses without proper sanitization or access restrictions. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and falls under the broader category of credential leakage issues that can severely compromise system security. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because it required no special privileges beyond standard user authentication, making it accessible to any authenticated user within the system. Attackers could potentially leverage this information to gain unauthorized access to underlying databases, escalating their privileges and potentially compromising entire data ecosystems. The exploitation path required users to navigate to specific API endpoints that returned database connection details, where password fields were included in the response payload without proper filtering mechanisms. This exposure occurred due to inadequate input validation and output sanitization processes within the application's API layer. The security implications extend beyond simple credential theft, as these database passwords could provide attackers with direct access to sensitive data repositories, potentially enabling data exfiltration, modification, or complete system compromise. Organizations using affected versions of Apache Superset faced significant risk of unauthorized data access and potential regulatory violations, particularly in environments where data protection and privacy compliance are critical. The vulnerability was addressed in Apache Superset version 1.4.0 through enhanced API response filtering and stricter access controls for database connection information. This fix aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which covers credentials in files, as the vulnerability allowed unauthorized access to stored credentials through API interfaces. The remediation involved implementing proper access control checks and ensuring that sensitive information such as passwords is never returned in API responses to unauthorized users. Security practitioners should prioritize upgrading affected systems to version 1.4.0 or higher to prevent potential exploitation and maintain compliance with security standards. The incident highlights the importance of proper API security design and the need for regular security assessments to identify information disclosure vulnerabilities that could be exploited by authenticated users. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual API access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts targeting credential information.