CVE-2022-21713 in Grafana
Summary
by MITRE • 02/09/2022
Grafana is an open-source platform for monitoring and observability. Affected versions of Grafana expose multiple API endpoints which do not properly handle user authorization. `/teams/:teamId` will allow an authenticated attacker to view unintended data by querying for the specific team ID, `/teams/:search` will allow an authenticated attacker to search for teams and see the total number of available teams, including for those teams that the user does not have access to, and `/teams/:teamId/members` when editors_can_admin flag is enabled, an authenticated attacker can see unintended data by querying for the specific team ID. Users are advised to upgrade as soon as possible. There are no known workarounds for this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21713 affects Grafana, a widely-used open-source platform for monitoring and observability that serves as a critical component in modern IT infrastructure. This security flaw represents a significant authorization bypass issue that undermines the platform's access control mechanisms. The vulnerability manifests through multiple API endpoints that fail to properly validate user permissions, creating opportunities for authenticated attackers to access sensitive data they should not be authorized to view. The affected endpoints include `/teams/:teamId`, `/teams/:search`, and `/teams/:teamId/members`, each presenting distinct pathways for unauthorized data exposure that collectively weaken the overall security posture of Grafana installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate authorization checks within Grafana's team management API endpoints. When an attacker authenticates to the system, they can exploit the flawed authorization logic to query specific team identifiers and retrieve information about teams they should not have access to. The `/teams/:search` endpoint particularly exposes the total count of all available teams, including those belonging to restricted groups, effectively providing attackers with reconnaissance data about the organization's team structure and permissions. Additionally, when the editors_can_admin flag is enabled, the `/teams/:teamId/members` endpoint allows attackers to view membership details for teams they shouldn't be able to access, creating a comprehensive information disclosure scenario. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all access control implementations.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-21713 extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential reconnaissance activities that could enable more sophisticated attacks. An attacker with access to this information could map the organizational structure of teams within the Grafana environment, identify sensitive teams, and potentially escalate privileges through further exploitation. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Grafana for monitoring and observability, which typically contain critical operational data, system metrics, and potentially sensitive configuration information. The exposure of team membership information could reveal relationships between different operational units, identify key personnel with administrative access, and provide insights into the overall architecture of monitoring systems. This information disclosure creates opportunities for attackers to plan more targeted attacks and could lead to privilege escalation if combined with other vulnerabilities or if the system lacks proper segregation of duties.
Organizations utilizing Grafana should prioritize immediate remediation through upgrading to versions that address this vulnerability, as no effective workarounds exist for the issue. The vulnerability represents a critical authorization flaw that could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive monitoring data and team information within Grafana environments. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their Grafana installations to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement additional monitoring for unusual API access patterns that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The flaw demonstrates the importance of proper authorization checking in API endpoints and highlights the need for regular security assessments of monitoring platforms that serve as critical infrastructure components. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls around Grafana installations to limit exposure and reduce the potential impact of such authorization bypass vulnerabilities. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper access control implementation in multi-tenant monitoring systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access, as it enables unauthorized access to systems through legitimate authentication mechanisms.