CVE-2023-45873 in Server
Summary
by MITRE • 02/29/2024
An issue was discovered in Couchbase Server through 7.2.2. A data reader may cause a denial of service (application exist) because of the OOM killer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-45873 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Couchbase Server versions up to 7.2.2. This issue stems from improper memory management during data reading operations that can trigger the Linux Out-of-Memory (OOM) killer mechanism, ultimately leading to application termination and complete service disruption. The flaw specifically affects how the database server handles memory allocation when processing read requests, creating a scenario where legitimate data access operations can inadvertently consume excessive system resources.
This vulnerability operates through a memory exhaustion attack vector that leverages the OOM killer functionality inherent to Linux operating systems. When a malicious or malformed data reader attempts to access specific data patterns within Couchbase Server, the memory allocation routines fail to properly manage resource consumption, causing the system to allocate memory beyond available limits. The OOM killer then intervenes to terminate the Couchbase process to prevent system instability, resulting in complete application failure and service unavailability. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-400 vulnerability type related to unrestricted resource consumption and CWE-119 related to improper access to memory locations.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-45873 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential data integrity concerns and business continuity risks. Organizations relying on Couchbase Server for critical database operations face significant operational challenges as this vulnerability can be exploited to cause unplanned outages, potentially leading to data access interruptions, transaction failures, and cascading effects throughout dependent applications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in production environments where database availability is paramount, as it can be triggered through legitimate read operations, making it difficult to distinguish between normal usage and malicious exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-45873 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Couchbase Server installations to version 7.2.3 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. Network-level protections such as rate limiting and connection throttling can help reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts by limiting the volume of read operations that can be performed within specific time windows. Additionally, implementing memory monitoring solutions and configuring appropriate system-level OOM killer behavior can provide early detection and response capabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing application-level controls to validate and sanitize data reader requests before they reach the database server, reducing the likelihood of triggering the vulnerable memory allocation paths. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004 for network denial of service and T1070.006 for indicator removal, highlighting both the service disruption potential and the need for defensive measures against exploitation attempts.