CVE-2023-2247 in Deploy
Summary
by MITRE • 05/02/2023
In affected versions of Octopus Deploy it is possible to unmask variable secrets using the variable preview function
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2247 affects Octopus Deploy versions prior to 2023.2.4791, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines the security of sensitive configuration data within deployment automation environments. This vulnerability specifically targets the variable preview functionality, which is designed to allow users to view variable values during deployment process configuration. The flaw enables unauthorized access to masked secrets that should remain protected from casual observation. The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the variable preview mechanism, where the system fails to properly enforce access controls when displaying sensitive information. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in the application's security design.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with direct access to critical deployment credentials, API keys, database passwords, and other sensitive configuration values that are typically masked within the Octopus Deploy interface. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to production environments, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data breaches, and unauthorized code deployments. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Octopus Deploy manages critical infrastructure deployments and where variable masking is expected to provide security boundaries. Security teams face the challenge of identifying compromised systems and understanding the full scope of potential damage when this vulnerability is exploited in the wild.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes "Information Exposure," and represents a specific implementation flaw where sensitive data that should be protected through masking is inadvertently exposed through the preview functionality. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1552.001 for "Unsecured Credentials" and T1078.004 for "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts" when attackers leverage compromised credentials. The flaw also demonstrates characteristics of privilege escalation through information gathering, as attackers can use the exposed secrets to move laterally within the deployment infrastructure. Organizations using Octopus Deploy should immediately implement the vendor-provided patch to address this vulnerability and conduct comprehensive security audits to identify any potential exploitation that may have occurred during the vulnerability's active period.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of all affected Octopus Deploy instances to version 2023.2.4791 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of variable preview functionality usage and establish alerting mechanisms for unusual access patterns. Security teams should review and audit existing variable configurations to identify any potentially exposed secrets and rotate credentials where necessary. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced around deployment environments to limit exposure even if additional vulnerabilities are present. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments of deployment automation tools and the need for proper input validation and output sanitization in all user-facing interfaces. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as just-in-time credential access and principle of least privilege enforcement for deployment automation systems to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components of their infrastructure.