CVE-2023-4065 in AMQ Broker
Summary
by MITRE • 09/27/2023
A flaw was found in Red Hat AMQ Broker Operator, where it displayed a password defined in ActiveMQArtemisAddress CR, shown in plain text in the Operator Log. This flaw allows an authenticated local attacker to access information outside of their permissions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2023
This vulnerability exists within the Red Hat AMQ Broker Operator ecosystem where sensitive authentication credentials are inadvertently exposed through operator logging mechanisms. The flaw specifically manifests when the ActiveMQArtemisAddress custom resource definition contains password fields that get logged in plain text format within the operator's log output. This represents a critical security oversight that violates fundamental principles of credential handling and access control as outlined in CWE-522 and CWE-259. The vulnerability enables authenticated local attackers to extract sensitive information from system logs, potentially compromising the confidentiality of authentication credentials used for messaging infrastructure components.
The technical implementation flaw stems from improper logging practices within the operator's codebase where password parameters are directly included in log messages without appropriate sanitization or obfuscation mechanisms. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 which describes the use of log data for information gathering and credential extraction purposes. The operator's logging functionality fails to implement proper security controls such as credential masking, parameter filtering, or access control validation before writing sensitive data to persistent storage. This issue particularly affects environments where multiple users or processes have access to the operator logs, creating an attack surface that extends beyond the immediate user context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations utilizing Red Hat AMQ Broker Operator in production environments. An authenticated local attacker with access to system logs can extract plaintext passwords and potentially escalate privileges within the messaging infrastructure. This compromise could lead to unauthorized access to message queues, data exfiltration, or disruption of critical messaging services. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security hygiene in accordance with NIST SP 800-53 control CM-7 which requires proper handling of sensitive information during system operations. Organizations may experience regulatory compliance issues if credential exposure occurs, particularly in environments subject to PCI DSS, HIPAA, or SOX requirements.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive log sanitization procedures within the operator codebase to prevent plaintext credential exposure. Security patches should include automatic parameter filtering for sensitive fields such as passwords, usernames, and authentication tokens before any logging operations occur. Organizations should also implement log access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to system logs containing sensitive information. The fix aligns with industry best practices outlined in OWASP Top 10 2021 category A07: Identification and Authentication Failures, requiring proper credential handling and secure logging mechanisms. Regular security assessments should validate that no plaintext credentials appear in operational logs, while implementing centralized log management solutions with appropriate access controls to prevent unauthorized information disclosure.