CVE-2023-34232 in snowflake-connector-nodejs
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2023
snowflake-connector-nodejs, a NodeJS driver for Snowflake, is vulnerable to command injection via single sign on (SSO) browser URL authentication in versions prior to 1.6.21. 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. Version 1.6.21 contains a patch for this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-34232 affects the snowflake-connector-nodejs driver, a critical component used by developers to establish connections to Snowflake cloud data platforms through Node.js applications. This security flaw represents a command injection vulnerability that specifically manifests during single sign-on browser URL authentication processes, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on Snowflake's cloud services. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of SSO URL parameters, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary commands that execute on the victim's local machine. The attack vector requires a sophisticated social engineering approach where attackers must first establish a malicious resource and then successfully redirect users to utilize this compromised resource, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the SSO authentication flow of the Snowflake Node.js connector, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize URL parameters before processing them in a command execution context. This flaw aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-94 categories, representing command injection and code injection vulnerabilities respectively, which are classified as high-risk due to their potential for remote code execution. When a user accesses a maliciously crafted connection URL containing crafted SSO parameters, the connector processes these unvalidated inputs and executes them as system commands on the local machine. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 1.6.21, indicating that Snowflake's development team identified and patched this issue in their subsequent release, demonstrating the importance of maintaining current software versions and applying security patches promptly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and lateral movement within an organization's network infrastructure. Attackers who successfully execute this attack can gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in Snowflake, potentially exfiltrate confidential information, or establish persistent backdoors for future access. The attack scenario requires specific conditions to be met including successful social engineering to get users to visit malicious URLs, but once exploited, the consequences can be severe for organizations handling sensitive data through Snowflake platforms. This vulnerability particularly affects enterprise environments where developers frequently use Snowflake connectors and may not always maintain strict security controls over connection parameters, creating multiple potential entry points for attackers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on implementing proper URL validation and sanitization controls within the application code, along with establishing robust URL whitelisting mechanisms to prevent execution of untrusted URLs. Organizations should implement comprehensive security awareness training to reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks that rely on tricking users into visiting malicious URLs. The patch released in version 1.6.21 addresses the core issue by implementing proper input validation and sanitization of SSO URL parameters, preventing the injection of malicious commands during the authentication process. Security controls should also include network-level protections such as firewalls and web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious URL patterns, as well as monitoring systems that can identify unusual authentication patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the MITRE ATT&CK framework would likely map to techniques involving command and scripting interpreter for execution, highlighting the need for comprehensive endpoint protection and application control measures to prevent unauthorized command execution on affected systems.