CVE-2023-40354 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies
Discover the impact and technical details of CVE-2023-40354, a vulnerability in MariaDB MaxScale enabling encryption passwords to be stored in cleartext, and learn how to mitigate the risk.
An issue was discovered in MariaDB MaxScale before version 23.02.3 where a user enters an encrypted password on a 'maxctrl create service' command line, but this password is then stored in cleartext in the resulting .cnf file under /var/lib/maxscale/maxscale.cnf.d. This vulnerability has been fixed in versions 2.5.28, 6.4.9, 22.08.8, and 23.02.3.
Understanding CVE-2023-40354
This section will provide insights into the impact of CVE-2023-40354 and its technical details.
What is CVE-2023-40354?
CVE-2023-40354 is a vulnerability in MariaDB MaxScale that allows a user's encrypted password to be stored in cleartext in a specific configuration file.
The Impact of CVE-2023-40354
The impact of this vulnerability includes the exposure of sensitive information, such as user passwords, due to improper storage mechanisms.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-40354
Let's delve into the specifics of the vulnerability including its description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability allows an encrypted password entered via a command line to be stored in plain text in a configuration file.
Affected Systems and Versions
All versions of MariaDB MaxScale before 23.02.3 are affected by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by accessing the cleartext password in the configuration file to gain unauthorized access.
Mitigation and Prevention
Here we discuss the immediate steps to take to secure your system and ensure long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
Immediately update MariaDB MaxScale to one of the fixed versions: 2.5.28, 6.4.9, 22.08.8, or 23.02.3. Additionally, change any exposed passwords.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement secure password management practices and regularly audit configuration files for exposed sensitive information.
Patching and Updates
Stay informed about security patches and updates for MariaDB MaxScale to address any future vulnerabilities.