CVE-2024-45624 in Pgpool-II
Summary
by MITRE • 09/12/2024
Exposure of sensitive information due to incompatible policies issue exists in Pgpool-II. If a database user accesses a query cache, table data unauthorized for the user may be retrieved.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-45624 represents a critical information exposure flaw within Pgpool-II, a widely deployed database connection pooler and load balancer solution. This issue stems from an incompatible policy implementation that fails to properly enforce access controls when database users interact with query caching mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically manifests when database users attempt to access cached query results, creating a scenario where unauthorized retrieval of table data becomes possible. The root cause lies in the improper handling of access permissions within the query cache subsystem, where the system does not adequately verify user privileges before serving cached content. This misconfiguration allows malicious or unauthorized users to potentially access sensitive data that should be restricted based on their authentication and authorization credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the query cache mechanism within Pgpool-II failing to maintain proper isolation between different user sessions and their respective data access permissions. When a query is executed and cached, the system should ensure that subsequent requests for the same query are only served to users who would have legitimate access to the underlying data. However, the incompatible policy enforcement results in cached query results being served regardless of user permissions, effectively bypassing the normal access control checks that should occur at the database level. This flaw operates at the application layer and affects the database access control model, potentially allowing users to retrieve data from tables they should not be authorized to access, particularly when that data has been previously cached by other users with different permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-45624 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it fundamentally undermines the security posture of systems relying on Pgpool-II for database access management. Organizations using this software may experience unauthorized data access across multiple user accounts, potentially leading to sensitive information disclosure including personal data, financial records, or proprietary business information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where Pgpool-II serves as a central point for database access control, as it can enable privilege escalation attacks where lower-privileged users gain access to data typically restricted to higher-privileged accounts. This issue can also facilitate lateral movement within database environments, as attackers may use the vulnerability to discover and access additional databases or tables that contain more sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-45624 should focus on immediate patching of Pgpool-II installations to address the incompatible policy implementation. Organizations must also implement additional security controls including regular monitoring of database access patterns and query cache usage to detect anomalous behavior. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be enforced to limit direct access to Pgpool-II instances, while implementing proper logging and audit trails for all database access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access, as it enables unauthorized data access through legitimate database connections. Security teams should conduct comprehensive assessments of their database environments to identify all instances of Pgpool-II and ensure proper access control enforcement is maintained throughout the system architecture.