CVE-2024-43371 in ckan
Summary
by MITRE • 08/21/2024
CKAN is an open-source data management system for powering data hubs and data portals. There are a number of CKAN plugins, including XLoader, DataPusher, Resource proxy and ckanext-archiver, that work by downloading the contents of local or remote files in order to perform some actions with their contents (e.g. pushing to the DataStore, streaming contents or saving a local copy). All of them use the resource URL, and there are currently no checks to limit what URLs can be requested. This means that a malicious (or unaware) user can create a resource with a URL pointing to a place where they should not have access in order for one of the previous tools to retrieve it (known as a Server Side Request Forgery). Users wanting to protect against these kinds of attacks can use one or a combination of the following approaches: (1) Use a separate HTTP proxy like Squid that can be used to allow / disallow IPs, domains etc as needed, and make CKAN extensions aware of this setting via the ckan.download_proxy config option. (2) Implement custom firewall rules to prevent access to restricted resources. (3) Use custom validators on the resource url field to block/allow certain domains or IPs. All latest versions of the plugins listed above support the ckan.download_proxy settings. Support for this setting in the Resource Proxy plugin was included in CKAN 2.10.5 and 2.11.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-43371 affects CKAN, an open-source data management platform designed for creating data hubs and portals. This system incorporates various plugins such as XLoader, DataPusher, Resource proxy, and ckanext-archiver that function by retrieving content from local or remote file sources to perform operations like data storage, streaming, or local caching. The core issue lies in the absence of URL validation mechanisms within these plugins, creating a significant security gap that allows unauthorized access to restricted resources through server-side request forgery attacks. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the platform's access control architecture, as it enables malicious actors to exploit the system's legitimate data retrieval functions for unauthorized information access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the lack of input validation on resource URLs within CKAN's plugin ecosystem. When users create resources with specific URL references, the system downloads content without verifying whether the target location is accessible or appropriate for the user's permissions. This design flaw allows attackers to craft resource entries pointing to internal network resources, sensitive databases, or restricted web services that should normally be inaccessible to the platform's users. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-918, Server-Side Request Forgery, which specifically addresses weaknesses where applications make unauthorized requests to internal systems through server-side components. The attack vector becomes particularly dangerous when considering that CKAN's plugins operate with elevated privileges and can access system resources that would otherwise be protected by network segmentation or access control policies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized data access, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges and compromise entire data infrastructure. An attacker could leverage this weakness to access internal databases, retrieve sensitive configuration files, or even exploit other systems within the network perimeter that are typically protected by firewalls or access control lists. The implications are particularly severe for organizations using CKAN in production environments where data sensitivity levels vary significantly across different datasets and user roles. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the platform's architecture, as it allows users with basic access rights to potentially reach resources that should be restricted to administrators or specific authorized personnel. The risk is compounded by the fact that multiple plugins within the CKAN ecosystem are affected, providing attackers with several potential entry points for exploitation.
Organizations can implement several mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, with the most effective approaches focusing on network-level controls and application configuration settings. The recommended solution involves deploying HTTP proxy mechanisms such as Squid to control and monitor outbound requests from CKAN components, enabling administrators to define access policies based on IP addresses, domain names, or other network parameters. The CKAN platform itself supports the ckan.download_proxy configuration option, which allows administrators to specify proxy settings that can prevent unauthorized access to internal resources. Additionally, implementing custom firewall rules provides another layer of protection by blocking access to sensitive network segments from the CKAN server environment. The platform's newer versions have incorporated support for these security measures, with specific plugin support for the download_proxy configuration included in CKAN 2.10.5 and 2.11.0 releases. Custom validators can also be implemented to restrict URL patterns and prevent the creation of resource entries pointing to problematic destinations, though this approach requires more development effort and ongoing maintenance to remain effective against evolving attack techniques. These mitigation strategies align with ATT&CK technique T1071.004, Application Layer Protocol: DNS, which emphasizes the importance of network segmentation and proxy-based controls to prevent unauthorized data exfiltration and access to internal systems.