CVE-2023-46701 in Mattermost
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2023
Mattermost fails to perform authorization checks in the /plugins/playbooks/api/v0/runs/add-to-timeline-dialog endpoint of the Playbooks plugin allowing an attacker to get limited information about a post if they know the post ID
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46701 affects the Mattermost collaboration platform through its Playbooks plugin, specifically targeting the /plugins/playbooks/api/v0/runs/add-to-timeline-dialog endpoint. This issue represents a critical authorization bypass weakness that undermines the platform's access control mechanisms. The flaw allows unauthenticated or unauthorized users to retrieve limited information about specific posts when they possess knowledge of the post identifier, creating a potential information disclosure risk within the Mattermost environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization validation within the Playbooks plugin's API endpoint. When a request is made to the add-to-timeline-dialog endpoint, the system fails to verify whether the requesting user has proper permissions to access the targeted post information. This authorization gap occurs despite the endpoint being designed to operate within the context of Mattermost's permission model, where different users should have varying levels of access to posts and related data. The vulnerability specifically manifests when attackers can construct valid requests using known post IDs without proper authentication or authorization checks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exposes Mattermost organizations to potential information leakage threats that could compromise sensitive data within collaborative environments. Attackers who discover valid post IDs through various means such as reconnaissance, social engineering, or previous breaches can exploit this flaw to extract limited but potentially valuable information about specific posts. The impact is particularly concerning in enterprise settings where Mattermost serves as a communication platform for sensitive business operations, project management, and team collaboration activities. The limited information disclosure aspect suggests that while attackers cannot access complete post contents, they can gather metadata or partial information that may aid in further reconnaissance activities or social engineering efforts.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 related to valid accounts and credential access. Organizations using Mattermost with the Playbooks plugin should immediately implement mitigations including mandatory authentication for all API endpoints, proper access control enforcement, and regular security assessments of plugin components. The recommended approach involves updating to patched versions of Mattermost and the Playbooks plugin, implementing additional network-level access controls, and conducting comprehensive audits of all API endpoints to ensure proper authorization mechanisms are in place. Security teams should also consider monitoring for unusual API access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.