CVE-2025-6713 in Server
Summary
by MITRE • 07/07/2025
An unauthorized user may leverage a specially crafted aggregation pipeline to access data without proper authorization due to improper handling of the $mergeCursors stage in MongoDB Server. This may lead to access to data without further authorisation. This issue affects MongoDB Server MongoDB Server v8.0 versions prior to 8.0.7, MongoDB Server v7.0 versions prior to 7.0.20 and MongoDB Server v6.0 versions prior to 6.0.22
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2025-6713 represents a critical authorization bypass issue within MongoDB Server that stems from improper handling of the $mergeCursors aggregation pipeline stage. This flaw allows unauthorized users to craft specially designed aggregation operations that can access data they should not have permission to view, fundamentally undermining the database's access control mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets MongoDB Server versions up to and including 8.0.6, 7.0.19, and 6.0.21, indicating a widespread impact across multiple major release lines that have been widely deployed in production environments.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient validation and authorization checks implemented for the $mergeCursors stage within MongoDB's aggregation framework. When a malicious user constructs an aggregation pipeline containing this stage, the server fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has adequate permissions to access the underlying data sources being merged. This improper authorization handling creates a pathway for privilege escalation where unauthorized individuals can bypass normal access controls and retrieve sensitive information from collections they should not be able to read. The vulnerability operates at the aggregation pipeline level, making it particularly insidious as it can be concealed within legitimate-looking database operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in MongoDB's security model that could enable comprehensive data theft across affected systems. Attackers could potentially aggregate data from multiple collections, combine it with other operations, and extract sensitive information without leaving obvious traces in audit logs. This type of vulnerability would be particularly dangerous in environments where MongoDB serves as a backend for applications handling personal identifiable information, financial data, or other sensitive datasets. The vulnerability's presence in multiple major versions suggests that organizations running any of these affected releases may be exposed to this risk, regardless of their specific deployment configurations or security hardening measures.
Organizations should immediately prioritize updating their MongoDB Server installations to the patched versions mentioned in the advisory, specifically upgrading to MongoDB Server 8.0.7, 7.0.20, or 6.0.22 depending on their current version. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of aggregation pipelines in development and staging environments before deployment to production systems. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of existing aggregation pipelines to identify any potentially vulnerable operations and implement monitoring for unusual aggregation activity patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it allows unauthorized access through legitimate database operations rather than brute force or credential theft methods. Additionally, the issue demonstrates characteristics of T1566 Phishing, as attackers might exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information without detection, making it particularly concerning for compliance and audit purposes.