CVE-2023-2785 in Server
Summary
by MITRE • 06/16/2023
Mattermost fails to properly truncate the postgres error log message of a search query failure allowing an attacker to cause the creation of large log files
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2785 affects the Mattermost collaborative platform and represents a significant logging and resource exhaustion issue within its database interaction mechanisms. This flaw specifically manifests in the PostgreSQL error logging functionality where the system fails to properly truncate error messages generated during search query failures. The improper handling of these log messages creates a condition where attacker-controlled inputs can influence the size and content of log entries, potentially leading to uncontrolled growth of log files. The vulnerability exists within the application's error reporting pipeline where database query failures are logged without adequate sanitization or size limitations on the error message content. This behavior creates a potential denial of service vector through resource exhaustion, as the system continues to append full error messages to log files without bounds checking. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and output sanitization that can be exploited to manipulate system resources, particularly storage capacity. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-772, which covers insufficient logging, and CWE-122, which addresses insufficient restriction of operations within a limited memory buffer. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1499.004, specifically for resource exhaustion attacks, where adversaries exploit system limitations to consume available resources. The operational impact extends beyond simple storage consumption as large log files can affect system performance, complicate troubleshooting, and potentially obscure legitimate security events. When combined with other logging mechanisms, this vulnerability can create cascading effects that degrade overall system responsiveness and availability. The issue particularly affects organizations relying on Mattermost for communication and collaboration, where database search functionality is frequently utilized. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious search queries that generate exceptionally long error messages, causing rapid log file growth and potentially exhausting disk space. This vulnerability also has implications for log analysis systems that may struggle to process or parse extremely large log entries, creating additional operational challenges. The lack of truncation controls means that any user with access to search functionality could potentially trigger this behavior, making it a significant concern for environments with open or less restricted access controls. Organizations using Mattermost should consider implementing immediate mitigations such as log rotation policies, size limitations on log entries, and enhanced input validation for database queries. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper error handling design patterns and the need for comprehensive logging security measures that prevent malicious input from influencing system resource consumption. Additionally, system administrators should monitor log file sizes and implement automated alerts for unusual growth patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The issue underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices and implementing robust input sanitization techniques, particularly when dealing with database interactions and error reporting mechanisms. Proper implementation of this fix would require modifications to the logging subsystem to enforce maximum message length limits and ensure that all error content is appropriately truncated before being written to log files. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of how seemingly minor logging flaws can have significant operational impacts, particularly in enterprise environments where system reliability and resource management are critical considerations for maintaining business continuity and security posture.