CVE-2023-6974 in mlflow
Summary
by MITRE • 12/20/2023
A malicious user could use this issue to access internal HTTP(s) servers and in the worst case (ie: aws instance) it could be abuse to get a remote code execution on the victim machine.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6974 represents a critical security flaw that enables unauthorized access to internal HTTP(s) servers through improper access control mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of insecure direct object references and weak access control issues as classified by CWE-284, which specifically addresses insufficient access control in software applications. The flaw allows a malicious actor to bypass normal authentication and authorization protocols, potentially gaining access to resources that should be restricted to authorized users only.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability typically involves a misconfiguration in how applications handle internal server requests or how they validate access permissions for HTTP(s) endpoints. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific requests that target internal services or by manipulating request parameters to access resources that are normally protected by network segmentation or access control lists. The vulnerability's impact escalates significantly when targeting cloud environments such as aws instances, where internal services may be exposed through poorly configured security groups or network access controls.
When exploited, CVE-2023-6974 can lead to severe operational consequences including unauthorized data access, privilege escalation, and potentially remote code execution on target systems. The attack vector often involves reconnaissance to identify internal services and then leveraging the vulnerability to gain access to systems that should remain isolated from external networks. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers typically enumerate network services before exploiting access control weaknesses. The potential for remote code execution on victim machines represents the most severe outcome, as it allows attackers to establish persistent access and potentially compromise entire infrastructure domains.
Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigation strategies including network segmentation to isolate internal services, robust access control implementations, and regular security audits of application configurations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of principle of least privilege and proper network architecture design as outlined in cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53. Regular patch management and security configuration reviews are essential to prevent exploitation of such access control flaws. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for unusual access patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of securing internal network resources and maintaining proper access controls even for services that are intended to remain within private network boundaries.