CVE-2023-44981: Apache ZooKeeper: Authorization bypass in SASL Quorum Peer Authentication

Published Oct 11, 2023
·
Updated

Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerability in Apache ZooKeeper. If SASL Quorum Peer authentication is enabled in ZooKeeper (quorum.auth.enableSasl=true), the authorization is done by verifying that the instance part in SASL authentication ID is listed in zoo.cfg server list. The instance part in SASL auth ID is optional and if it's missing, like 'eve@EXAMPLE.COM', the authorization check will be skipped. As a result an arbitrary endpoint could join the cluster and begin propagating counterfeit changes to the leader, essentially giving it complete read-write access to the data tree. Quorum Peer authentication is not enabled by default. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.9.1, 3.8.3, 3.7.2, which fixes the issue. Alternately ensure the ensemble election/quorum communication is protected by a firewall as this will mitigate the issue. See the documentation for more details on correct cluster administration.

Other sources

Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerability in Apache ZooKeeper. If SASL Quorum Peer authentication is enabled in ZooKeeper (quorum.auth.enableSasl=true), the authorization is done by verifying that the instance part in SASL authentication ID is listed in zoo.cfg server list. The instance part in SASL auth ID is optional and if it's missing, like 'eve', the authorization check will be skipped. As a result an arbitrary endpoint could join the cluster and begin propagating counterfeit changes to the leader, essentially giving it complete read-write access to the data tree. Quorum Peer authentication is not enabled by default.

Users are recommended to upgrade to version 3.9.1, 3.8.3, 3.7.2, which fixes the issue.

Alternately ensure the ensemble election/quorum communication is protected by a firewall as this will mitigate the issue.

See the documentation for more details on correct cluster administration.

https://lists.apache.org/thread/wf0yrk84dg1942z1o74kd8nycg6pgm5b http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/11/4

— Red Hat

Affected Software

21 affected componentsFixes available
Apache Zookeeper<3.7.2
Apache Zookeeper>=3.8.0<3.8.3
Apache Zookeeper=3.9.0
ubuntu/zookeeper<3.4.13-3ubuntu0.1~
3.4.13-3ubuntu0.1~
ubuntu/zookeeper<3.4.13-5ubuntu0.1
3.4.13-5ubuntu0.1
ubuntu/zookeeper<3.4.13-6ubuntu4.1
3.4.13-6ubuntu4.1
ubuntu/zookeeper<3.8.0-10ubuntu0.1
3.8.0-10ubuntu0.1
ubuntu/zookeeper<3.7.2, <3.8.3, <3.9.1
3.7.23.8.33.9.1
ubuntu/zookeeper<3.8.0-11ubuntu0.1
3.8.0-11ubuntu0.1
debian/zookeeper<=3.4.13-2
3.4.13-2+deb10u13.4.13-6+deb11u13.8.0-11+deb12u13.9.1-1
maven/org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper>=3.9.0<3.9.1
3.9.1
maven/org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper>=3.8.0<3.8.3
3.8.3
maven/org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper<3.7.2
3.7.2
Debian Debian Linux=10.0
Debian Debian Linux=11.0
Debian Debian Linux=12.0
redhat/zookeeper<3.9.1
3.9.1
redhat/zookeeper<3.8.3
3.8.3
redhat/zookeeper<3.7.2
3.7.2
IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS and DOORS Web Access<=9.7.2.1 - 9.7.2.11
IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS and DOORS Web Access<=9.6.1.1 - 9.6.1.13

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/zookeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.4.13-3ubuntu0.1~
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/zookeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.4.13-5ubuntu0.1
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/zookeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.4.13-6ubuntu4.1
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/zookeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.8.0-10ubuntu0.1
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/zookeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.7.2Fixed in 3.8.3Fixed in 3.9.1
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/zookeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.8.0-11ubuntu0.1
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/zookeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.4.13-2+deb10u1Fixed in 3.4.13-6+deb11u1Fixed in 3.8.0-11+deb12u1Fixed in 3.9.1-1
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.9.1
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.8.3
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.zookeeper:zookeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.7.2
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/zookeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.9.1
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/zookeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.8.3
  13. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/zookeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.7.2
  14. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apache ZooKeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.9.1
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apache ZooKeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.8.3
  16. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apache ZooKeeper to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 3.7.2
  17. Compensating control

    If SASL Quorum Peer authentication is enabled in ZooKeeper (quorum.auth.enableSasl=true), mitigate by ensuring the ensemble election/quorum communication is protected by a firewall.

Event History

Oct 11, 2023
CVE Published
via Ubuntu·12:00 AM
CVE Published
via MITRE·11:55 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·11:55 AM
DescriptionWeakness
Advisory Published
via GitHub·12:30 PM
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·11:51 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Jan 17, 2024
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·04:12 PM
Description
Jul 6, 2026
Data Sourced
via IBM·12:00 AM
DescriptionAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2023-44981?

CVE-2023-44981 is a vulnerability in Apache ZooKeeper that allows authorization bypass through user-controlled key.

2

What is the severity of CVE-2023-44981?

The severity of CVE-2023-44981 is critical with a CVSS score of 9.1.

3

How does CVE-2023-44981 affect Apache ZooKeeper?

CVE-2023-44981 affects Apache ZooKeeper by enabling an authorization bypass in SASL Quorum Peer Authentication.

4

Which versions of Apache ZooKeeper are affected by CVE-2023-44981?

CVE-2023-44981 affects Apache ZooKeeper versions 3.9.0 to 3.9.1, 3.8.0 to 3.8.3, and 3.7.2.

5

How can I fix CVE-2023-44981?

To fix CVE-2023-44981, update Apache ZooKeeper to version 3.9.1, 3.8.3, or 3.7.2.

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