CVE-2023-34231 in gosnowflake
Summary
by MITRE • 06/08/2023
gosnowflake is th Snowflake Golang driver. Prior to version 1.6.19, a command injection vulnerability exists in the Snowflake Golang driver via single sign-on (SSO) browser URL authentication. In order to exploit the potential for command injection, an attacker would need to be successful in (1) establishing a malicious resource and (2) redirecting users to utilize the resource. The attacker could set up a malicious, publicly accessible server which responds to the SSO URL with an attack payload. If the attacker then tricked a user into visiting the maliciously crafted connection URL, the user’s local machine would render the malicious payload, leading to a remote code execution. This attack scenario can be mitigated through URL whitelisting as well as common anti-phishing resources. A patch is available in version 1.6.19.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2023
The CVE-2023-34231 vulnerability represents a critical command injection flaw within the Snowflake Golang driver that specifically affects versions prior to 1.6.19. This vulnerability manifests through the single sign-on browser URL authentication mechanism, creating a pathway for remote code execution when users interact with maliciously crafted connection URLs. The flaw resides in how the driver processes and handles SSO authentication URLs, where insufficient input validation allows malicious payloads to be executed on the victim's local machine during the authentication process. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate authentication flows to deliver malicious code, making it difficult to detect through traditional security measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to establish a malicious resource and successfully redirect users to utilize it, creating a sophisticated attack chain that combines web-based deception with client-side execution. The attack vector specifically targets the SSO URL handling functionality where the driver fails to properly sanitize or validate the URL parameters before processing them. When a user attempts to connect to Snowflake using a maliciously crafted URL, the driver's insecure handling of the SSO authentication process results in command injection, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code on the victim's system. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-78, which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in OS commands, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter. The attack scenario demonstrates a classic example of a man-in-the-middle attack combined with social engineering, where the malicious server responds to the SSO URL with a payload that gets executed when the user's browser attempts to authenticate.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass potential data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and system compromise within the organization's infrastructure. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in Snowflake databases, potentially leading to corporate espionage or regulatory compliance violations. The attack requires user interaction through phishing or social engineering tactics, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may not be adequately trained to recognize malicious URLs. Organizations using the Snowflake Golang driver in production environments face significant risk if they have not upgraded to version 1.6.19, as the vulnerability can be exploited by attackers with minimal technical skill. The mitigation strategy involves implementing strict URL whitelisting policies to prevent access to untrusted SSO endpoints, along with comprehensive anti-phishing measures and user education programs to reduce the success rate of social engineering attacks.
The patch released in version 1.6.19 addresses the core issue by implementing proper input validation and sanitization of SSO URLs, preventing malicious payloads from being executed during the authentication process. This remediation aligns with industry best practices for preventing command injection vulnerabilities and demonstrates the importance of regular security updates in database driver software. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the patched version and conduct thorough security assessments of their Snowflake environments to ensure no exploitation has occurred. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of authentication mechanisms, particularly those involving external identity providers and browser-based authentication flows. Security teams should implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous SSO URL patterns and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to handle potential exploitation of this type of vulnerability.