CVE-2017-7650 : What You Need to Know

CVE-2017-7650, assigned to Eclipse Foundation's Mosquitto, highlights a vulnerability in versions 0.15 to 1.4.11 that allows unauthorized access to MQTT topics by exploiting pattern-based ACLs.

Understanding CVE-2017-7650

This CVE, published on May 29, 2017, poses a risk of loss of confidentiality due to improper access control.

What is CVE-2017-7650?

Clients connecting to affected Mosquitto versions can bypass ACLs by manipulating their username/client ID, granting access to unauthorized MQTT topics.

The Impact of CVE-2017-7650

The vulnerability enables both local and remote clients to access MQTT topics they are not authorized to, compromising confidentiality.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-7650

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

In Mosquitto versions prior to 1.4.12, clients can exploit pattern-based ACLs by setting their username/client ID to '#' or '+', allowing unauthorized access to MQTT topics.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Mosquitto
Vendor: Eclipse Foundation
Versions: 0.15 to 1.4.11 inclusive

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized access is achieved by manipulating the username/client ID to '#' or '+', circumventing ACLs.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2017-7650 with these measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Mosquitto to version 1.4.12 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Review and adjust ACL configurations to ensure proper access control.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch Mosquitto to address security flaws.
Monitor and restrict client access to MQTT topics based on the principle of least privilege.

Patching and Updates

Stay vigilant for security advisories and promptly apply patches to keep your systems secure.