CVE-2022-24721 in CometD
Summary
by MITRE • 03/15/2022
CometD is a scalable comet implementation for web messaging. In any version prior to 5.0.11, 6.0.6, and 7.0.6, internal usage of Oort and Seti channels is improperly authorized, so any remote user could subscribe and publish to those channels. By subscribing to those channels, a remote user may be able to watch cluster-internal traffic that contains other users' (possibly sensitive) data. By publishing to those channels, a remote user may be able to create/modify/delete other user's data and modify the cluster structure. A fix is available in versions 5.0.11, 6.0.6, and 7.0.6. As a workaround, install a custom `SecurityPolicy` that forbids subscription and publishing to remote, non-Oort, sessions on Oort and Seti channels.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2022
CometD represents a scalable comet implementation for web messaging that facilitates real-time communication between clients and servers through persistent connections. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-24721 affects versions prior to 5.0.11, 6.0.6, and 7.0.6, where the internal authorization mechanisms for Oort and Seti channels are inadequately configured. These channels serve as critical communication pathways within distributed CometD clusters, enabling coordination between multiple server instances. The flaw stems from improper authorization checks that allow any remote user to gain unauthorized access to these internal communication channels, fundamentally undermining the security boundaries of the messaging infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests in the inadequate validation of user permissions when accessing Oort and Seti channels within the CometD architecture. These channels are designed to facilitate cluster-internal communication, but the vulnerability permits unauthorized remote users to both subscribe to and publish messages within these channels. This misconfiguration creates a privilege escalation scenario where malicious actors can observe sensitive data flows between cluster nodes, including potentially confidential information belonging to other users. The vulnerability operates at the protocol level, affecting the fundamental authorization mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized access to internal cluster communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant and multifaceted, encompassing both data exposure and system integrity threats. Remote attackers can monitor cluster-internal traffic to observe sensitive user data, potentially exposing personal information, session details, or other confidential communications. Additionally, the ability to publish to these channels enables attackers to manipulate cluster behavior by creating, modifying, or deleting user data, as well as altering the structural configuration of the cluster. This capability represents a severe threat to both data confidentiality and system availability, potentially allowing attackers to disrupt normal cluster operations or compromise user accounts. The vulnerability affects the core messaging infrastructure and could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the cluster environment.
The recommended fix involves upgrading to versions 5.0.11, 6.0.6, or 7.0.6 where proper authorization checks have been implemented for Oort and Seti channels. These updates address the root cause by ensuring that only authorized participants can access internal cluster communication channels. As a temporary mitigation measure, administrators can implement a custom SecurityPolicy that explicitly forbids subscription and publishing to remote, non-Oort sessions on Oort and Seti channels. This workaround helps maintain cluster security while awaiting the official patch deployment. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access through network-based attacks. Organizations should prioritize this patch deployment to prevent potential exploitation and maintain the integrity of their distributed messaging infrastructure.