CVE-2023-0575 in Yugabyte DB
Summary
by MITRE • 02/09/2023
External Control of Critical State Data, Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') vulnerability in YugaByte, Inc. Yugabyte DB on Windows, Linux, MacOS, iOS (DevopsBase.Java:execCommand, TableManager.Java:runCommand modules) allows API Manipulation, Privilege Abuse. This vulnerability is associated with program files backup.Py. This issue affects Yugabyte DB: Lesser then 2.2.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2023
The CVE-2023-0575 vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Yugabyte DB affecting versions prior to 2.2 across multiple operating systems including Windows, Linux, MacOS, and iOS. This vulnerability falls under the category of external control of critical state data and improper control of generation of code, commonly known as code injection attacks. The flaw manifests within the DevopsBase.Java:execCommand and TableManager.Java:runCommand modules, which are integral components of the database's operational framework. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate API endpoints and potentially abuse privileged operations through malicious input manipulation that bypasses normal security controls. The issue is particularly concerning as it stems from program files backup.py, indicating that the vulnerability may be exploited through compromised backup mechanisms or during routine operational procedures that involve command execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user input before executing system commands or API calls. Attackers can manipulate the command execution flow by injecting malicious payloads through API interfaces that ultimately lead to arbitrary code execution on the target system. This represents a direct violation of secure coding practices and demonstrates insufficient input validation controls within the database management system. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data manipulation as it allows for privilege abuse, potentially enabling attackers to escalate their access rights and gain unauthorized control over database operations. The weakness creates a pathway for attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and execute commands with elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where database security is paramount.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-0575 is severe and multifaceted, affecting organizations that rely on Yugabyte DB for their database operations across diverse platforms. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of data compromise, system infiltration, and potential complete system takeover. The vulnerability's presence in backup-related components particularly raises concerns about long-term security implications, as attackers could potentially compromise backup systems and use them as entry points for persistent access. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability means that organizations cannot simply patch one operating system variant to resolve the issue, requiring comprehensive remediation across all affected environments. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes improper control of generation of code, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter for execution. The potential for privilege abuse and API manipulation creates cascading security risks that could compromise entire database infrastructures.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including upgrading to Yugabyte DB version 2.2 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and monitor network traffic for suspicious command execution patterns. The remediation process must include thorough review of backup procedures and implementation of additional security controls around command execution interfaces. Security teams should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack vectors, while also establishing monitoring protocols specifically designed to detect API manipulation attempts. The vulnerability's association with program files backup.py suggests that organizations should review their backup and restore procedures to ensure that these processes are not inadvertently creating attack surfaces. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that the implemented mitigations are effective and that no additional attack vectors remain unaddressed.