CVE-2019-2386 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in MongoDB Server allows an authenticated user's session to persist and mix with new accounts after user deletion.

Understanding CVE-2019-2386

This CVE involves the improper invalidation of authorization sessions in MongoDB Server, potentially leading to session conflation.

What is CVE-2019-2386?

When a user is deleted in MongoDB Server, the issue arises from the failure to properly invalidate authorization sessions. This allows an authenticated user's session to persist and become conflated with new accounts if those new accounts reuse the names of deleted ones.

The Impact of CVE-2019-2386

The vulnerability has a CVSS base score of 7.1, indicating a high severity level. It can lead to unauthorized access, data integrity compromise, and service disruption.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-2386

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from the improper invalidation of authorization sessions in MongoDB Server, enabling session conflation.

Affected Systems and Versions

MongoDB Server v4.0 versions prior to 4.0.9
MongoDB Server v3.6 versions prior to 3.6.13
MongoDB Server v3.4 versions prior to 3.4.22

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability requires an authenticated user to delete their account, leading to the persistence of their session and potential conflation with new accounts.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2019-2386 with the following measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Restart any nodes with active user authorization sessions after deleting users.
Avoid creating user accounts with names identical to previously deleted accounts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update user access permissions.
Monitor session activities for anomalies and unauthorized access attempts.

Patching and Updates

Apply the necessary patches provided by MongoDB Inc. to address the vulnerability.