CVE-2024-42056 in Retool
Summary
by MITRE • 08/22/2024
Retool (self-hosted enterprise) through 3.40.0 inserts resource authentication credentials into sent data. Credentials for users with "Use" permissions can be discovered (by an authenticated attacker) via the /api/resources endpoint. The earliest affected version is 3.18.1.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2025
This vulnerability exists in Retool self-hosted enterprise software versions up to 3.40.0 where the application improperly handles authentication credentials during resource data transmission. The flaw specifically affects the /api/resources endpoint which is accessible to authenticated users with "Use" permissions. When these users make requests to this endpoint, the system inadvertently includes credential information in the response data, creating a significant information disclosure risk. This represents a critical security oversight in the application's data handling and access control mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the resource management module. The system fails to properly separate authentication credentials from resource data before sending responses to clients. This allows an authenticated attacker with minimal privileges to exploit the endpoint and extract credential information belonging to other users. The vulnerability affects versions starting from 3.18.1, indicating a long-standing issue in the application's security architecture. The flaw is classified as a credential exposure vulnerability that violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to other users' resources. An attacker with "Use" permissions can leverage this vulnerability to discover credentials for resources they should not normally access, potentially leading to full system compromise. This type of information disclosure can facilitate lateral movement within the network and enable more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability affects enterprise environments where multiple users share access to resources, making it particularly dangerous in production systems where sensitive data is processed.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including restricting access to the vulnerable /api/resources endpoint, implementing additional authentication checks, and monitoring for unusual access patterns to this endpoint. The recommended approach involves applying the latest security patches from Retool to address the credential handling flaw. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and represents a violation of the principle of least privilege as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. The attack pattern follows the T1078 (Valid Accounts) technique from the MITRE ATT&CK framework where attackers exploit legitimate credentials to gain access to additional resources within the system.