CVE-2022-32229 in Rocket.Chat
Summary
by MITRE • 09/23/2022
A information disclosure vulnerability exists in Rockert.Chat <v5 due to /api/v1/chat.getThreadsList lack of sanitization of user inputs and can therefore leak private thread messages to unauthorized users via Mongo DB injection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-32229 represents a critical information disclosure flaw in Rocket.Chat versions prior to v5.0.0, specifically affecting the /api/v1/chat.getThreadsList endpoint which serves as a gateway for retrieving thread discussions within the messaging platform. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly validate and sanitize user-provided parameters before processing them within the application's backend operations. The flaw creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's database interaction layer through MongoDB injection techniques, allowing unauthorized access to private thread conversations that should remain restricted to authorized participants only. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication and authorization controls that protect private messaging threads, effectively undermining the security model that Rocket.Chat implements to safeguard user communications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted malicious input parameters that are passed to the chat.getThreadsList API endpoint without proper sanitization. When the application processes these unvalidated inputs, it constructs MongoDB queries that inadvertently expose private thread data to unauthorized users. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" and represents a fundamental weakness in the application's data handling procedures. The injection occurs at the database interaction level where user inputs are directly incorporated into MongoDB query construction without proper parameterization or filtering, creating an attack surface that allows for unauthorized data retrieval. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to bypass normal access controls and extract sensitive information from private threads that contain confidential communications, personal data, or business-sensitive discussions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it fundamentally compromises the trust model that messaging platforms rely upon for user privacy and security. Organizations using affected Rocket.Chat versions face significant risks including potential data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage when private communications are accessible to unauthorized individuals. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the platform's access control mechanisms, potentially allowing attackers to gain insights into private conversations, user relationships, and sensitive business discussions that should remain confidential. Security teams must consider that this vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users interact through the platform. The exposure of private thread messages can lead to targeted attacks, social engineering attempts, and unauthorized access to sensitive organizational information that may have been shared in private discussions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-32229 require immediate implementation of input validation and sanitization measures across all API endpoints that interact with database systems. Organizations should upgrade to Rocket.Chat version 5.0.0 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and parameterized database queries. The fix typically involves implementing proper input validation mechanisms that filter or escape user-provided parameters before they are processed by the application's database layer. Security controls should include parameterized queries to prevent injection attacks, comprehensive input validation routines, and proper access control enforcement at the API level. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their messaging platform configurations to ensure that no other endpoints suffer from similar vulnerabilities, implementing the principle of least privilege for database access and establishing proper monitoring for suspicious API usage patterns. The remediation process should also include reviewing and updating security policies to prevent similar issues in future development cycles, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding and database interaction management.