CVE-2023-2801 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2023-2801 affecting Grafana versions before 9.4.12 and 9.5.3. High-severity vulnerability leading to potential denial of service attacks. Take immediate actions and apply patches for protection.
This CVE record was published on June 6, 2023, by GRAFANA. It affects Grafana and Grafana Enterprise versions earlier than 9.4.12 and 9.5.3. The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.5, classifying it as a high-severity issue.
Understanding CVE-2023-2801
This vulnerability impacts Grafana and Grafana Enterprise instances, potentially leading to a denial of service scenario due to a particular query feature in the software.
What is CVE-2023-2801?
Grafana, an open-source platform for monitoring and observability, allows users to query multiple data sources using mixed queries. However, this capability can crash a Grafana instance, making it vulnerable to exploitation.
The Impact of CVE-2023-2801
Malicious actors may exploit this vulnerability by sending malicious queries through public dashboards or the query API, leading to denial of service by crashing the Grafana instance. This can disrupt monitoring and observability processes.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-2801
Grafana versions prior to 9.4.12 and 9.5.3 are susceptible to this vulnerability. The attack vector is through the network, with low attack complexity, and can have a high impact on availability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises due to the nature of mixed queries in Grafana, which can be triggered through public dashboards or querying the API directly, potentially crashing the instance.
Affected Systems and Versions
Grafana and Grafana Enterprise versions before 9.4.12 and 9.5.3 are affected by CVE-2023-2801.
Exploitation Mechanism
By sending malicious mixed queries through public dashboards or the query API, attackers can exploit this vulnerability and cause denial of service by crashing Grafana instances.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2023-2801, immediate actions and long-term security practices are recommended to safeguard affected systems.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to upgrade their Grafana installations to versions 9.4.12 or 9.5.3, where fixes for this vulnerability have been implemented.
Long-Term Security Practices
Continuously monitor security advisories and apply patches promptly to mitigate the risk of exploitation by known vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Regularly check for software updates and security advisories from Grafana to ensure that systems are protected against potential threats.