CVE-2022-32563 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability has been discovered in Couchbase Sync Gateway 3.x before version 3.0.2 that allows unauthenticated users to escalate privileges by bypassing admin credentials when using X.509 client-certificate authentication.

Understanding CVE-2022-32563

This CVE affects Couchbase Sync Gateway 3.x versions prior to 3.0.2 and poses a security risk related to the verification of admin credentials when X.509 client-certificate authentication is utilized.

What is CVE-2022-32563?

The issue arises when Sync Gateway communicates with Couchbase Server using X.509 client certificates, leading to the disregard of admin credentials provided to the Admin REST API. This oversight results in unauthorized users gaining elevated privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2022-32563

The vulnerability allows unauthenticated individuals to exploit the system, potentially compromising data integrity and confidentiality. However, the Public REST API remains unaffected by this specific issue.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-32563

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

Admin credentials are not properly validated when X.509 client-certificate authentication is employed, enabling unauthorized users to elevate their privileges within Couchbase Sync Gateway.

Affected Systems and Versions

Couchbase Sync Gateway 3.x versions prior to 3.0.2 are susceptible to this privilege escalation vulnerability when utilizing X.509 client-certificate authentication.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the flaw in the authentication process, malicious actors can bypass admin credentials and gain unauthorized access to sensitive functionalities within the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2022-32563, immediate steps should be taken to mitigate the risk and prevent exploitation. Additionally, long-term security practices can be implemented to enhance overall system resilience.

Immediate Steps to Take

A workaround is to replace X.509 certificate-based authentication with Username and Password authentication within the bootstrap configuration to prevent privilege escalation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing a robust authentication mechanism and regularly reviewing security configurations can help safeguard against similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Users are advised to update Couchbase Sync Gateway to version 3.0.2 or above, where the issue has been addressed through proper validation of admin credentials in X.509 client-certificate authentication.