CVE-2024-7553 in Server
Summary
by MITRE • 08/07/2024
Incorrect validation of files loaded from a local untrusted directory may allow local privilege escalation if the underlying operating systems is Windows. This may result in the application executing arbitrary behaviour determined by the contents of untrusted files. This issue affects MongoDB Server v5.0 versions prior to 5.0.27, MongoDB Server v6.0 versions prior to 6.0.16, MongoDB Server v7.0 versions prior to 7.0.12, MongoDB Server v7.3 versions prior 7.3.3, MongoDB C Driver versions prior to 1.26.2 and MongoDB PHP Driver versions prior to 1.18.1.
Required Configuration:
Only environments with Windows as the underlying operating system is affected by this issue
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/20/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw in MongoDB server implementations that stems from inadequate file validation mechanisms when processing untrusted input from local directories. The issue specifically manifests on Windows operating systems where the application fails to properly validate file contents before executing operations that could lead to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and can be classified as CWE-22, which addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate file contents in ways that bypass normal security boundaries, potentially enabling them to execute malicious code with elevated privileges. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust model of the application itself to gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly sanitize or validate file paths and contents when reading from local directories. Attackers can exploit this by placing malicious files in directories that the MongoDB service accesses, then manipulating the application's behavior through these untrusted inputs. The vulnerability specifically affects multiple MongoDB server versions including 5.0.x before 5.0.27, 6.0.x before 6.0.16, 7.0.x before 7.0.12, and 7.3.x before 7.3.3, along with corresponding client driver versions. The Windows-specific nature of this vulnerability indicates that the underlying operating system's file handling mechanisms or security model may contribute to the exploitation conditions. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through exploitation of system vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to potentially enable full system takeover by malicious actors who can leverage the privilege escalation to gain administrative access to affected systems. Organizations running MongoDB services on Windows platforms face significant risk as attackers could use this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, establish persistence mechanisms, or escalate their access to critical system resources. The affected drivers including C and PHP versions indicate that the vulnerability is not limited to server-side implementations but also affects client applications that may be vulnerable to similar attacks through local file manipulation. This creates a broader attack surface that could potentially be exploited through various application vectors, making the impact more severe than typical privilege escalation vulnerabilities. The vulnerability requires specific environmental conditions to be exploitable, namely Windows operating systems, which provides some mitigation but does not eliminate the risk for affected deployments.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of all affected MongoDB server versions and driver components to address the underlying validation flaws. Organizations should implement strict file access controls and validate all file inputs through robust sanitization processes before processing. Network segmentation and privilege separation should be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-22 highlights the need for proper input validation and path traversal prevention measures. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file access patterns or privilege escalation attempts that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potential weaknesses in MongoDB deployments. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege for MongoDB service accounts and restricting file system access permissions can significantly reduce the attack surface. The ATT&CK framework suggests implementing defensive measures such as process monitoring, file integrity checking, and application whitelisting to prevent exploitation of this class of vulnerability.