CVE-2023-42455 in Wazuh
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Wazuh is a security detection, visibility, and compliance open source project. In versions 4.4.0 and 4.4.1, it is possible to get the Wazuh API administrator key used by the Dashboard using the browser development tools. This allows a logged user to the dashboard to become administrator of the API, even if their dashboard role is not. Version 4.4.2 contains a fix. There are no known workarounds.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-42455 affects the Wazuh security platform, specifically versions 4.4.0 and 4.4.1, where a critical authorization bypass flaw exists in the API access control mechanism. This issue stems from improper handling of administrative credentials within the web interface, allowing authenticated dashboard users to extract privileged API keys through browser developer tools. The flaw represents a significant security weakness in the platform's privilege management system, as it enables users with standard dashboard access to escalate their privileges to full administrative control over the underlying Wazuh API. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and undermines the security model that separates user roles from administrative functions within the platform's architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exposure of administrative API keys through client-side browser interfaces, where developers can inspect and extract sensitive credentials using standard debugging tools. The flaw occurs because the Wazuh dashboard in these affected versions does not properly enforce authorization boundaries between user roles and administrative functions, allowing a logged-in user to access administrative endpoints through browser-based inspection techniques. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control, and represents a classic case of privilege escalation through information disclosure. The attack vector leverages the browser's developer console and network inspection capabilities to capture administrative tokens that should remain restricted to authorized administrators only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security posture of any Wazuh deployment running the affected versions. An attacker with access to a legitimate user account can leverage this vulnerability to gain complete control over the Wazuh API, potentially enabling them to modify security rules, access sensitive logs, manipulate alerts, and perform administrative actions that could go undetected. This vulnerability directly maps to several tactics in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly privilege escalation and persistence techniques, as it allows an attacker to establish a foothold with elevated privileges that can be maintained over time. The vulnerability also affects the platform's compliance capabilities, as unauthorized access to administrative functions could compromise audit trails and security monitoring processes.
Organizations using Wazuh versions 4.4.0 and 4.4.1 should immediately implement the patch available in version 4.4.2, which resolves this authorization bypass issue through proper credential handling and access control enforcement. The vulnerability does not have any known workarounds that would maintain system functionality while mitigating the risk, making the upgrade to the patched version the only recommended remediation approach. Security teams should conduct immediate assessments of their Wazuh deployments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and review access logs for signs of unauthorized administrative activity. The fix implemented in version 4.4.2 addresses the core issue by ensuring that administrative credentials are not exposed through browser interfaces and that proper authorization checks are enforced at the API level, preventing unauthorized privilege escalation through client-side inspection techniques.