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GHSA-gh9f-6xm2-c4j2
No affected components available
Authentication would not be properly validated when an already authenticated scope user would use the use method or USE clause to switch working databases in a session. If there was a user record in the new database with identical record identifier as the original record that the user authenticated with in the original database, this could result in the user being able to perform actions under the identity of the unrelated user in the new database. This issue does not affect system users at any level.
By default, record identifiers are randomly generated with sufficient complexity to prevent the identifier collision required to trigger this issue. However, the issue may trigger in situations where multiple databases in the same SurrealDB instance are using explicitly defined or incremental record identifiers to identify users on an identically named table.
Impact
Under the circumstances described above, a user who has an authenticated session as a scope user in a database could become authorized to query data under the identity of a specific scope user associated with an identical record identifier in a different database within the same SurrealDB instace if the PERMISSIONS clause would allow it due to relying exclusively on the $auth parameter, which would point to the impersonated user. The impact is limited to the single user with matching record identifier.
The impact of this issue is mitigated if the table PERMISSIONS clause explicitly checks for an scope that only exists in the specific database (e.g. $scope = "production") or certain claims of the authentication token (e.g. $token.email = "example@example.com"), both of which would remain unchanged in the session of the authenticated user after changing databases. Permissions will default to NONE if there is no PERMISSIONS clause, which also mitigates this impact of this issue.
Patches
- Version 1.5.4 and later are not affected by this issue.
- Version 2.0.0-alpha.6 and later will not be affected by this issue.
Workarounds
Users unable to update may want to ensure that table PERMISSIONS clauses explicitly check that the $scope parameter matches a scope that is uniquely named across databases in the same SurrealDB instance. Ensuring that record identifiers for users are automatically generated or explicitly generated to be unique across databases may also be sufficient to mitigate this issue, as the $auth parameter will not link to any user record and any PERMISSIONS clauses restricting authorization based on the authenticated user should fail to successfully evaluate.
References
- https://github.com/surrealdb/surrealdb/pull/4335
The vulnerability can be exploited over the network without needing physical access. It is easy for an attacker to exploit this vulnerability. An attacker needs basic access or low-level privileges. No user interaction is needed for the attacker to exploit this vulnerability. The impact is confined to the system where the vulnerability exists. There is a low impact on the confidentiality of the information. There is a low impact on the integrity of the data. There is a low impact on the availability of the system.
Exploitation attempts have been detected. Elevated vigilance and prompt remediation are advised.
The exploit probability is very low. The vulnerability is unlikely to be exploited in the next 30 days.
We did not find any exploit available. Neither in GitHub repositories nor in the Exploit-Database.
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