CVE-2023-41180 in NiFi MiNiFi C++
Summary
by MITRE • 09/03/2023
Incorrect certificate validation in InvokeHTTP on Apache NiFi MiNiFi C++ versions 0.13 to 0.14 allows an intermediary to present a forged certificate during TLS handshake negotation. The Disable Peer Verification property of InvokeHTTP was effectively flipped, disabling verification by default, when using HTTPS. Mitigation: Set the Disable Peer Verification property of InvokeHTTP to true when using MiNiFi C++ versions 0.13.0 or 0.14.0. Upgrading to MiNiFi C++ 0.15.0 corrects the default behavior.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-41180 affects Apache NiFi MiNiFi C++ versions 0.13.0 through 0.14.0 and represents a critical flaw in the certificate validation mechanism of the InvokeHTTP processor. This issue fundamentally undermines the security of TLS communications by creating a scenario where man-in-the-middle attackers can successfully impersonate legitimate servers during the TLS handshake process. The flaw specifically targets the Disable Peer Verification property which should normally enforce strict certificate validation but instead operates in reverse, effectively disabling verification by default when HTTPS connections are established through the InvokeHTTP processor.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper default configuration handling within the MiNiFi C++ runtime environment where the Disable Peer Verification property is incorrectly set to false by default, thereby disabling certificate validation even when users might expect it to be enabled. This misconfiguration creates a dangerous operational environment where network traffic can be intercepted and manipulated without detection, as the system fails to verify the authenticity of server certificates presented during TLS negotiations. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-295 which describes weaknesses in certificate validation and trust verification mechanisms, specifically targeting the failure to properly validate certificate chains and server identities during secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to encompass potential system compromise and data exfiltration across all network communications processed through the InvokeHTTP processor. Attackers can exploit this weakness to establish fraudulent connections with applications, databases, or other network services that MiNiFi C++ communicates with over HTTPS, potentially gaining access to sensitive information, credentials, or system resources. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on MiNiFi C++ for edge computing and data collection scenarios where secure communication channels are paramount for maintaining data integrity and confidentiality.
Security practitioners should immediately implement the recommended mitigation measures by setting the Disable Peer Verification property to true for all InvokeHTTP processors when operating within MiNiFi C++ versions 0.13.0 or 0.14.0, effectively re-enabling certificate validation. However, the most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to MiNiFi C++ version 0.15.0 which corrects the default behavior and ensures proper certificate validation is enabled by default. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive audits of their MiNiFi C++ deployments to identify all instances where the InvokeHTTP processor is used with HTTPS connections and verify that appropriate security configurations have been applied. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper default security configurations and the potential for seemingly minor configuration issues to create significant security risks in distributed systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving credential access through man-in-the-middle attacks, where the compromised system serves as a conduit for unauthorized access to network resources.