CVE-2018-17188 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2018-17188, published on January 2, 2019, addresses vulnerabilities in Apache CouchDB before version 2.3.0 that allowed admin users to gain access to the underlying operating system, potentially leading to complete system access for unauthenticated users.

Understanding CVE-2018-17188

Apache CouchDB vulnerabilities and their impact.

What is CVE-2018-17188?

Prior to version 2.3.0, CouchDB allowed runtime configuration of key components, leading to vulnerabilities where admin users could access the OS as the CouchDB user, granting unauthenticated users full system access.

The Impact of CVE-2018-17188

The vulnerabilities allowed admin users to gain access to the underlying OS, potentially leading to complete system access for unauthenticated users.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-17188

Details on the vulnerability and affected systems.

Vulnerability Description

CouchDB vulnerabilities allowed admin users to access the underlying OS, creating a risk of complete system access for unauthenticated users.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Apache CouchDB
Vendor: Apache Software Foundation
Versions affected: All versions before 2.3.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerabilities stemmed from the ability to configure key components at runtime, enabling admin users to access the OS as the CouchDB user.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2018-17188.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade to CouchDB version 2.3.0 or newer to prevent exploitation.
Restrict access to CouchDB admin privileges.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update and patch CouchDB to address security vulnerabilities.
Implement least privilege access controls to limit potential damage.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Apache CouchDB.