CVE-2023-50436 in Server
Summary
by MITRE • 02/29/2024
An issue was discovered in Couchbase Server before 7.2.4. ns_server admin credentials are leaked in encoded form in the diag.log file. The earliest affected version is 7.1.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-50436 represents a critical information disclosure flaw in Couchbase Server versions prior to 7.2.4. This issue specifically affects the ns_server component which handles administrative functions within the database system. The problem manifests when administrative credentials are inadvertently written to the diag.log file in an encoded format, creating a potential attack vector for unauthorized access to sensitive system resources. The vulnerability impacts all versions from 7.1.5 and earlier, making it a significant concern for organizations running older Couchbase deployments.
The technical flaw stems from improper handling of administrative credentials within the logging mechanism of ns_server. When system diagnostics are generated, the logging process fails to properly sanitize or redact administrative authentication information before writing it to the diag.log file. The credentials are stored in an encoded format rather than being completely omitted from the logs, which means that even if the encoding appears obfuscated, it remains accessible to anyone with access to the log files. This design flaw directly violates secure coding principles and represents a failure in proper credential handling and logging practices. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-209 Information Exposure Through an Error Message, though it specifically manifests through log file leakage rather than direct error exposure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for organizations utilizing Couchbase Server in production environments. Attackers who gain access to the diag.log files can potentially extract administrative credentials and use them to gain unauthorized access to the database system. This provides attackers with elevated privileges that could lead to data exfiltration, system compromise, or complete database takeover. The encoded nature of the credentials does not provide sufficient protection since the encoding methods used are often reversible or can be cracked using readily available tools. The vulnerability creates a persistent risk as long as the affected versions remain in use, and the log files may be retained for extended periods, providing attackers with prolonged access windows. This issue particularly affects organizations that do not implement proper log rotation and access controls, making it a widespread concern across enterprise deployments.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Couchbase Server version 7.2.4 or later to remediate this vulnerability. In the interim, administrators should implement strict access controls over diag.log files, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access these sensitive logs. Log file rotation policies should be enforced to minimize the retention period of potentially compromised information. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts to log files. The mitigation strategy should also include regular security audits of log file contents and implementation of automated tools to detect credential leakage in system logs. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1562.001 for Credential Dumping and represents a clear violation of security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 frameworks. Organizations should also consider implementing centralized logging solutions with proper credential sanitization to prevent similar issues in other database systems and applications.