CVE-2023-0290 : What You Need to Know

This CVE details a vulnerability in Rapid7 Velociraptor that allowed for directory traversal in the client ID parameter, leading to privilege escalation.

Understanding CVE-2023-0290

This vulnerability in Rapid7 Velociraptor allowed an attacker to conduct directory traversal by manipulating the client ID parameter in the CreateCollection API, resulting in unauthorized access to sensitive resources.

What is CVE-2023-0290?

The CVE-2023-0290 vulnerability in Rapid7 Velociraptor was due to improper sanitization of the client ID parameter in the CreateCollection API. This flaw enabled an attacker with at least "investigator" role privileges to schedule a collection task on the server, typically reserved for administrators.

The Impact of CVE-2023-0290

The impact of CVE-2023-0290, also known as CAPEC-233 Privilege Escalation, allowed unauthorized users to exploit the vulnerability and gain access to server artifacts by bypassing the required administrative permissions.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-0290

This section explains the specific details surrounding the vulnerability in Rapid7 Velociraptor.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Velociraptor versions before 0.6.7-5 stemmed from the lack of proper validation in the client ID parameter of the CreateCollection API, enabling unauthorized users to perform directory traversal and schedule collection tasks on the server.

Affected Systems and Versions

Velociraptor versions before 0.6.7-5 were impacted by this vulnerability, allowing attackers with "investigator" role privileges to exploit the directory traversal flaw.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit CVE-2023-0290, an attacker needed at least an "investigator" level user account in Velociraptor, along with the ability to authenticate to the GUI and issue API calls to the backend.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding how to mitigate and prevent vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-0290 is crucial for maintaining system security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to upgrade to Velociraptor version 0.6.7-5 or above to address the directory traversal vulnerability and prevent unauthorized access to server artifacts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing the principle of least privilege, regular security assessments, and monitoring user roles and permissions can help prevent similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Rapid7 released version 0.6.7-5 on January 16, 2023, which includes a fix for the CVE-2023-0290 vulnerability. Regularly applying security patches and updates is essential to protect against known vulnerabilities.