CVE-2024-3102 in anything-llm
Summary
by MITRE • 06/06/2024
A JSON Injection vulnerability exists in the `mintplex-labs/anything-llm` application, specifically within the username parameter during the login process at the `/api/request-token` endpoint. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of values, allowing attackers to perform brute force attacks without prior knowledge of the username. Once the password is known, attackers can conduct blind attacks to ascertain the full username, significantly compromising system security.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The JSON injection vulnerability identified in mintplex-labs/anything-llm represents a critical security flaw within the application's authentication mechanism that directly impacts the robustness of user access controls. This vulnerability specifically manifests in the username parameter handling during the login process at the /api/request-token endpoint, where the application fails to properly sanitize or validate user input before processing it within JSON structures. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation that allows malicious actors to inject JSON content into the username field, creating opportunities for exploitation that extend beyond traditional authentication bypass techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability creates a dangerous attack surface where the application's JSON parsing logic becomes a vector for unauthorized access attempts. When an attacker submits a malformed username containing JSON injection payloads, the system processes these inputs without sufficient sanitization, potentially allowing the injection to manipulate the intended JSON structure. This improper handling of values creates conditions where authentication mechanisms can be circumvented through brute force attacks that do not require prior knowledge of valid usernames, fundamentally weakening the security posture of the application's login system. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of CWE-74 and CWE-79, representing both injection flaws and improper output escaping in the context of JSON data processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple authentication bypasses, as it enables sophisticated attack patterns that can systematically uncover valid usernames through blind injection techniques. Attackers can leverage the vulnerability to conduct iterative brute force attempts where the JSON injection allows them to infer username validity through response variations or timing differences in the application's behavior. Once a valid password is discovered through these methods, the blind attack capability enables the complete reconstruction of valid usernames, effectively eliminating the security benefit of username obfuscation. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for credential stuffing and T1212 for exploitation of software vulnerabilities, creating a pathway for persistent unauthorized access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate input validation gaps and the broader architectural security concerns within the JSON processing pipeline. The primary remediation involves implementing comprehensive input sanitization that validates and escapes all user-provided data before JSON serialization, ensuring that special characters and injection payloads are properly handled. Organizations should also implement rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms to prevent automated brute force attacks, while establishing proper logging and monitoring to detect anomalous authentication patterns. Additionally, the application should adopt secure coding practices that enforce strict JSON schema validation and implement proper error handling that does not reveal internal system information to unauthorized users. The fix should also include implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms and considering the adoption of more robust authentication protocols that are less susceptible to these types of injection-based attacks.