CVE-2023-46128 in nautobot
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Nautobot is a Network Automation Platform built as a web application atop the Django Python framework with a PostgreSQL or MySQL database. In Nautobot 2.0.x, certain REST API endpoints, in combination with the `?depth=` query parameter, can expose hashed user passwords as stored in the database to any authenticated user with access to these endpoints. The passwords are not exposed in plaintext. This vulnerability has been patched in version 2.0.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46128 affects Nautobot version 2.0.x, a network automation platform built on the Django Python framework with database backends including PostgreSQL and MySQL. This security flaw represents a significant information disclosure issue that undermines the platform's authentication security model. The vulnerability specifically targets REST API endpoints that support the depth query parameter, creating an unintended data exposure channel that compromises user credential security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of the depth parameter in REST API requests within the Nautobot application. When authenticated users make requests to specific API endpoints with the depth parameter, the application inadvertently includes hashed password values from the database in the response payload. This occurs because the depth parameter controls how much nested data is returned in API responses, but the implementation fails to properly sanitize or filter out sensitive authentication data during the serialization process. The hashed passwords are stored in the database as part of the user authentication mechanism, typically using Django's built-in password hashing functions, but the API response construction does not adequately protect this sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with access to password hash values that could potentially be exploited through various attack vectors. While the hashes are not exposed in plaintext, they represent a significant security risk since password hashes can be targeted through offline cracking attacks, rainbow table lookups, or password reuse attacks across different systems. The vulnerability affects any authenticated user with access to the affected API endpoints, which could include legitimate users with appropriate permissions, potentially expanding the attack surface beyond just malicious external actors. This issue particularly impacts organizations that rely heavily on Nautobot for network automation, as compromised password hashes could lead to unauthorized access to network infrastructure and related systems.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a specific instance of improper output filtering where sensitive data is unintentionally exposed through API responses. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566, "Phishing," as the compromised password hashes could facilitate credential reuse attacks, and T1528, "Gather Victim Identity Information," as it provides attackers with authentication credentials that can be used to access network resources. Organizations using Nautobot version 2.0.x should immediately implement the patch released in version 2.0.3, which properly sanitizes API responses to prevent the inclusion of password hash values in depth parameter responses. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of API endpoint access controls, review authentication logs for potential unauthorized access attempts, and consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual API query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The patch addresses the root cause by ensuring that password hash fields are excluded from API responses regardless of depth parameter values, thereby preventing unauthorized access to credential information while maintaining the platform's legitimate functionality.