CVE-2020-1955 : What You Need to Know

CouchDB version 3.0.0 has a vulnerability that allows remote privilege escalation due to a misconfigured access control setting.

Understanding CVE-2020-1955

Apache CouchDB 3.0.0 vulnerability with a misconfigured access control setting that can lead to remote privilege escalation.

What is CVE-2020-1955?

CouchDB 3.0.0 shipped with a new configuration setting named

require_valid_user_except_for_up

, aiming to control access to the database server. However, an implementation error led to the setting not enforcing credentials when enabled, allowing unauthorized access to endpoints.

The Impact of CVE-2020-1955

The vulnerability allows remote attackers to escalate privileges, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in the CouchDB database.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-1955

The technical aspects of the vulnerability in Apache CouchDB 3.0.0.

Vulnerability Description

A misconfigured

require_valid_user_except_for_up

setting in CouchDB 3.0.0 results in incorrect enforcement of credentials, allowing unauthorized access to endpoints.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Apache CouchDB
Version: 3.0.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises due to an implementation error in the new access control setting,

require_valid_user_except_for_up

, which fails to enforce credentials on endpoints when enabled.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent the impact of CVE-2020-1955.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to CouchDB versions 3.0.1 or 3.1.0, which address and fix the misconfiguration issue.
Review and update access control settings to ensure proper credential enforcement.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update CouchDB for security patches and vulnerabilities.
Implement least privilege access controls to restrict unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Apache CouchDB promptly to ensure security and prevent exploitation of the vulnerability.