CVE-2022-23532 in APOC
Summary
by MITRE • 01/14/2023
APOC (Awesome Procedures on Cypher) is an add-on library for Neo4j that provides hundreds of procedures and functions. A path traversal vulnerability found in the apoc.export.* procedures of apoc plugins in Neo4j Graph database. The issue allows a malicious actor to potentially break out of the expected directory. The vulnerability is such that files could only be created but not overwritten. For the vulnerability to be exploited, an attacker would need access to execute an arbitrary query, either by having access to an authenticated Neo4j client, or a Cypher injection vulnerability in an application. The minimum versions containing patch for this vulnerability are 4.4.0.12 and 4.3.0.12 and 5.3.1. As a workaround, you can control the allowlist of the procedures that can be used in your system, and/or turn off local file access by setting apoc.export.file.enabled=false.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2023
The CVE-2022-23532 vulnerability represents a critical path traversal flaw within the APOC (Awesome Procedures on Cypher) add-on library for Neo4j graph databases, specifically affecting the apoc.export.* procedures. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category of Path Traversal, where an attacker can manipulate file paths to access or create files outside of the intended directory structure. The flaw exists in how the export procedures handle file path resolution, allowing malicious actors to potentially escape the designated export directories through carefully crafted input parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and path sanitization within the APOC export procedures. When users provide file paths to export operations, the system fails to properly validate or sanitize these inputs, enabling attackers to use directory traversal sequences such as "../" to navigate outside of the intended export boundaries. While the vulnerability specifically limits attackers to file creation rather than overwriting existing files, this still represents a significant security risk as it allows for arbitrary file system modifications within the Neo4j server's file system access boundaries. The exploitation requires an authenticated session or a Cypher injection vulnerability, making it less likely to be exploited remotely but still dangerous when combined with other attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple file system manipulation, as it can enable attackers to potentially access sensitive data, create backdoor files, or disrupt normal database operations. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to exfiltrate data, establish persistence mechanisms, or even escalate privileges within the Neo4j environment. The vulnerability affects multiple Neo4j versions including 4.4.x, 4.3.x, and 5.x series, making it a widespread concern for organizations using APOC extensions. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1566.001 (Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment) as attackers may use it in conjunction with other techniques to establish persistent access or perform data exfiltration operations.
Organizations can mitigate this vulnerability through several approaches that align with industry best practices and security frameworks. The primary remediation involves upgrading to patched versions of Neo4j, specifically versions 4.4.0.12, 4.3.0.12, and 5.3.1, which contain proper input validation and path sanitization mechanisms. Additionally, implementing strict procedure allowlisting controls provides an effective defense-in-depth strategy, limiting which APOC procedures can be executed within the database environment. Disabling local file access entirely through the apoc.export.file.enabled=false configuration parameter serves as a robust workaround that prevents any file system interaction through export procedures. These mitigation strategies align with the principle of least privilege and defense-in-depth approaches recommended in cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001, ensuring that even if other security controls fail, the vulnerability cannot be exploited to compromise the system's integrity or confidentiality.