CVE-2022-39199 in immudb Client SDK
Summary
by MITRE • 11/22/2022
immudb is a database with built-in cryptographic proof and verification. immudb client SDKs use server's UUID to distinguish between different server instance so that the client can connect to different immudb instances and keep the state for multiple servers. SDK does not validate this uuid and can accept any value reported by the server. A malicious server can change the reported UUID tricking the client to treat it as a different server thus accepting a state completely irrelevant to the one previously retrieved from the server. This issue has been patched in version 1.4.1. As a workaround, when initializing an immudb client object a custom state handler can be used to store the state. Providing custom implementation that ignores the server UUID can be used to ensure that even if the server changes the UUID, client will still consider it to be the same server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2022-39199 affects immudb, a database system that provides cryptographic proof and verification mechanisms to ensure data integrity. This system employs a client-server architecture where client SDKs utilize server UUIDs to distinguish between different server instances and maintain separate connection states for multiple servers. The core flaw lies in the client-side implementation that fails to validate the UUID received from the server, creating a potential attack vector that undermines the security model of the system. This vulnerability represents a significant weakness in the authentication and state management mechanisms, as it allows malicious actors to manipulate the client's perception of server identity through UUID spoofing.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the lack of input validation in the client SDK implementation, specifically concerning the server UUID parameter. According to CWE-20, this manifests as an input validation flaw where the system accepts untrusted data without proper verification. The client's failure to validate the UUID creates a condition where a malicious server can arbitrarily change the reported UUID value, causing the client to treat the compromised server as a completely different instance. This allows for state confusion attacks where the client accepts and stores state information that is irrelevant to the originally connected server, potentially leading to data corruption or unauthorized access scenarios. The vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and authenticity guarantees that immudb is designed to provide.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it fundamentally compromises the trust model of the immudb system. When a malicious server presents a different UUID, the client will store the new state information under a different server identity, effectively breaking the state management mechanism that ensures consistency across client-server interactions. This creates opportunities for attackers to perform state manipulation attacks, where they can present false server identities to clients and manipulate stored state information. The vulnerability also enables potential man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can exploit the lack of UUID validation to confuse clients into accepting malicious data or state information. According to ATT&CK technique T1557, this represents a form of credential harvesting and session manipulation that undermines the security of the entire system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include upgrading to immudb version 1.4.1, which contains the necessary patches to address the UUID validation issue. However, organizations can also implement workarounds such as using custom state handlers during client initialization. The recommended approach involves creating a custom implementation that ignores server UUID changes, ensuring that clients continue to treat the same server instance regardless of UUID variations. This approach aligns with security best practices for maintaining consistent state management and prevents the exploitation of the validation gap. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unusual UUID patterns and consider implementing additional authentication layers beyond the basic UUID-based server identification to strengthen the overall security posture of their immudb deployments.