CVE-2022-25650 in Mendix 7
Summary
by MITRE • 04/12/2022
A vulnerability has been identified in Mendix Applications using Mendix 7 (All versions < V7.23.27), Mendix Applications using Mendix 8 (All versions < V8.18.14), Mendix Applications using Mendix 9 (All versions < V9.12.0), Mendix Applications using Mendix 9 (V9.6) (All versions < V9.6.3). When querying the database, it is possible to sort the results using a protected field. With this an authenticated attacker could extract information about the contents of a protected field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2022
This vulnerability represents a significant information disclosure flaw in Mendix applications that affects multiple major versions across different Mendix runtime environments. The issue stems from insufficient access control mechanisms during database query operations where authenticated attackers can manipulate sorting parameters to access protected field data. The vulnerability specifically impacts Mendix 7 versions prior to 7.23.27, Mendix 8 versions prior to 8.18.14, and Mendix 9 versions prior to 9.12.0, with a separate affected version range for Mendix 9.6 versions before 9.6.3. This represents a direct violation of data confidentiality principles and constitutes a privilege escalation vulnerability within the application's data access controls.
The technical flaw manifests when applications process database queries that include sorting operations on protected fields. Under normal circumstances, Mendix applications should enforce strict access control policies that prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive data fields. However, this vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to bypass these controls by crafting specific query parameters that reference protected fields during sorting operations. The vulnerability is classified as a data exposure issue that aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and potentially CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) as it allows unauthorized data access through legitimate application interfaces. The flaw essentially creates a pathway for attackers to extract information that should remain protected based on the application's security model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized data reconnaissance and information gathering activities. An authenticated attacker with access to the application can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information stored in protected database fields without proper authorization. This capability significantly increases the risk of data breaches and can lead to further exploitation opportunities as attackers gain insights into the application's data structure and content. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the application's access control mechanisms and can potentially expose personally identifiable information, business-critical data, or other sensitive attributes stored within the application's database. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates within the legitimate application workflow rather than requiring external exploitation techniques.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the available patches for their respective Mendix versions, with the specific version updates being 7.23.27, 8.18.14, and 9.12.0 for the main affected branches, plus 9.6.3 for the specific Mendix 9.6 version. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected Mendix applications within their environment and ensure proper access control configurations are in place. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect suspicious query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The mitigation strategy should also include reviewing and strengthening access control policies, implementing proper database field permissions, and conducting regular security testing of application interfaces. This vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1213.002 (Data from Information Repositories) and represents a classic example of how improper access control can lead to information disclosure, making it a critical priority for remediation in enterprise security programs.