CVE-2023-41041 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides an in-depth overview of CVE-2023-41041, which involves the persistence of user sessions in Graylog2-server even after logout.

Understanding CVE-2023-41041

CVE-2023-41041 highlights a vulnerability in Graylog2-server where user sessions remain usable for API requests post logout due to insufficient session expiration.

What is CVE-2023-41041?

Graylog2 is a log management platform where user sessions can persist across a multi-node cluster even after a user logs out, allowing unauthorized API requests until the session expires naturally. The issue affects versions prior to 5.0.9 and 5.1.3.

The Impact of CVE-2023-41041

The vulnerability poses a security risk as compromised sessions can be exploited to access the Graylog cluster through API requests, compromising data integrity and confidentiality.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-41041

The vulnerability stems from the failure to invalidate user sessions post-logout, allowing unauthorized access to API functionalities.

Vulnerability Description

Graylog2-server fails to terminate user sessions upon logout, enabling malicious actors to exploit compromised sessions for API requests, posing a significant security risk.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Graylog2
Product: graylog2-server
Affected Versions:
= 5.1.0, < 5.1.3

= 1.0.0, < 5.0.9

Exploitation Mechanism

The persistence of user sessions post-logout enables threat actors to conduct unauthorized API requests within the Graylog cluster, compromising system integrity.

Mitigation and Prevention

Addressing CVE-2023-41041 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices to safeguard systems.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are strongly advised to upgrade to versions 5.0.9 and 5.1.3 to mitigate the vulnerability and prevent unauthorized API access post-logout.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust session management practices, including immediate session invalidation upon logout, can enhance system security and prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating Graylog2-server to the latest patched versions and monitoring session activities can prevent unauthorized access and enhance overall system security.