CVE-2021-32050 : What You Need to Know

Some MongoDB Drivers may erroneously publish events containing authentication-related data to a command listener configured by an application. Learn more about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps associated with CVE-2021-32050.

Understanding CVE-2021-32050

This CVE involves the inadvertent publication of security-sensitive data by certain MongoDB Drivers to a command listener configured by an application.

What is CVE-2021-32050?

Some MongoDB Drivers may erroneously publish events containing authentication-related data to a command listener configured by an application. The published events may contain security-sensitive data when specific authentication-related commands are executed. This issue affects various MongoDB Drivers.

The Impact of CVE-2021-32050

Without proper care, an application could expose sensitive information by inadvertently writing it to a log file. This issue only arises if an application enables the command listener feature, which is not enabled by default.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-32050

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the MongoDB Drivers that may expose security-sensitive data when certain authentication-related commands are executed. Affected versions include MongoDB C Driver, MongoDB C++ Driver, MongoDB PHP Driver, MongoDB Swift Driver, and MongoDB Node.js Driver.

Affected Systems and Versions

The issue impacts MongoDB C Driver 1.0.0 prior to 1.17.7, MongoDB C++ Driver dependent on C driver 1.0.0 prior to 1.17.7, MongoDB PHP Driver 1.0.0 prior to 1.9.2, MongoDB Swift Driver 1.0.0 prior to 1.1.1, and MongoDB Node.js Driver versions 3.6 prior to 3.6.10, 4.0 prior to 4.17.0, and 5.0 prior to 5.8.0.

Exploitation Mechanism

This issue only occurs if an application enables the command listener feature. Users are advised to take immediate action to prevent inadvertent exposure of security-sensitive data.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Ensure that the command listener feature is disabled in MongoDB Drivers to mitigate the risk of exposing sensitive information. Users should also review and restrict access to log files containing any published data.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices, conduct regular security audits, and stay informed about security updates related to MongoDB Drivers to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Users are advised to update their MongoDB Drivers to the latest patched versions to address this vulnerability and enhance the security of their systems.