CVE-2023-45859 in Hazelcast
Summary
by MITRE • 02/29/2024
In Hazelcast through 4.1.10, 4.2 through 4.2.8, 5.0 through 5.0.5, 5.1 through 5.1.7, 5.2 through 5.2.4, and 5.3 through 5.3.2, some client operations don't check permissions properly, allowing authenticated users to access data stored in the cluster.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2024
Hazelcast is a distributed computing platform that provides in-memory data grid capabilities for enterprise applications. The vulnerability CVE-2023-45859 represents a critical authorization flaw affecting multiple versions of the Hazelcast platform across its major release lines. This issue stems from insufficient permission validation during client operations, creating a scenario where authenticated users can bypass intended access controls and gain unauthorized access to data stored within the cluster. The vulnerability impacts versions ranging from 4.1.10 through 4.2.8, 5.0 through 5.0.5, 5.1 through 5.1.7, 5.2 through 5.2.4, and 5.3 through 5.3.2, indicating a widespread issue affecting the platform's core security mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper implementation of access control checks within client operations that interact with the distributed data grid. When authenticated users perform operations against Hazelcast clusters, the system fails to properly validate whether these users possess the necessary permissions to access specific data sets or perform certain actions. This weakness creates an authorization bypass vulnerability that allows malicious or compromised authenticated users to access data they should not be permitted to view or modify. The issue is particularly concerning because it operates at the protocol level where client-server communications occur, making it difficult to detect through standard network monitoring approaches. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-284 Access Control Bypass, which specifically addresses situations where improper access control mechanisms allow unauthorized access to resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-45859 extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially enabling attackers to perform data manipulation, information disclosure, and denial of service attacks against Hazelcast clusters. Organizations utilizing affected Hazelcast versions may experience unauthorized data access, leading to potential data breaches and compliance violations. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the platform, as it undermines the trust model between authenticated clients and the distributed data grid. Attackers could exploit this weakness to access sensitive business data, customer information, or proprietary intellectual property stored within the cluster. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the Privilege Escalation and Credential Access tactics, where unauthorized access to resources is achieved through improper access control mechanisms.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of Hazelcast where available, as the vulnerability affects multiple release streams that have likely received security updates. Network segmentation and firewall rules can provide additional protection by limiting direct access to Hazelcast clusters from untrusted networks. Implementing strict client authentication mechanisms and monitoring for unusual access patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review existing access control policies and ensure that proper role-based access controls are implemented at the application level. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authorization implementation in distributed systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of access control mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized data access patterns and provide alerts when suspicious operations occur within their Hazelcast clusters.