CVE-2023-27481 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-27481 impacts Directus versions prior to 9.16.0 and allows users with read access to the

password

field in

directus_users

to extract argon2 password hashes through export querying. The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS base score of 4.3, indicating a medium severity level.

Understanding CVE-2023-27481

This vulnerability in Directus could potentially expose sensitive password hashes to unauthorized actors, leading to security risks for affected systems.

What is CVE-2023-27481?

Directus, a real-time API and App dashboard for managing SQL database content, is vulnerable in versions before 9.16.0. Users with read access to the

password

field in

directus_users

can extract argon2 password hashes through the export functionality and a

_starts_with

filter, allowing enumeration of password hashes.

The Impact of CVE-2023-27481

While the ability to extract password hashes poses a risk, accounts cannot be easily compromised unless the hashes are successfully reversed. However, this vulnerability exposes a potential security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-27481

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

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows users with read access to the

password

field in

directus_users

in versions prior to 9.16.0 to extract argon2 password hashes through the export functionality and a

_starts_with

filter.

Affected Systems and Versions

Directus versions below 9.16.0 are impacted by this vulnerability. Users utilizing these versions should take immediate action to mitigate the risk posed by this issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the export querying feature combined with a specific filter, malicious users can potentially extract password hashes from the system, compromising the security of user accounts.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-27481 and enhance the security posture of Directus installations, users are advised to implement the following measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Directus to version 9.16.0 or newer to apply the necessary patches that address this vulnerability.
Restrict read access to the

password

field in

directus_users

to minimize the risk of unauthorized hash extraction.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor for security updates and patches released by Directus to stay protected against emerging vulnerabilities.
Implement robust access controls and user permissions to limit privileges and reduce the attack surface within the system.

Patching and Updates

Directus has released version 9.16.0, which includes fixes to prevent the extraction of password hashes through export querying. Users are strongly encouraged to update to the latest version to safeguard their systems against CVE-2023-27481.