CVE-2023-27591 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE involves an issue where an unauthenticated user can bypass allowed networks check to obtain Prometheus metrics in Miniflux v2 versions prior to 2.0.43.

Understanding CVE-2023-27591

This vulnerability in Miniflux allows unauthorized access to Prometheus metrics, posing a risk of exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor.

What is CVE-2023-27591?

Miniflux, a feed reader, allows unauthenticated users to retrieve Prometheus metrics from a publicly reachable instance when certain configuration options are enabled. This can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information.

The Impact of CVE-2023-27591

The impact of this CVE is rated with a CVSSv3 base severity score of 7.5, categorizing it as a high-severity vulnerability. It has a high impact on confidentiality, as sensitive information can be exposed to unauthorized entities.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-27591

This section outlines the specific technical details related to CVE-2023-27591.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from an insufficient granularity of access control in Miniflux v2 versions prior to 2.0.43, allowing unauthenticated users to obtain Prometheus metrics.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected systems include Miniflux v2 versions prior to 2.0.43. Users utilizing versions earlier than 2.0.43 are vulnerable to this security issue.

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized actors can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the misconfigured access controls in Miniflux, enabling them to retrieve sensitive Prometheus metrics without proper authentication.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2023-27591.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are urged to update Miniflux to version 2.0.43 or newer, where a patch for this vulnerability is available.
As a temporary workaround, users can set the

METRICS_COLLECTOR

option to

false

or ensure that Miniflux is behind a trusted reverse-proxy.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement proper access controls and authentication mechanisms to restrict unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Regularly monitor and update software components to address security vulnerabilities promptly.

Patching and Updates

Miniflux users should update their installations to version 2.0.43 or later, which contains the necessary patch to mitigate the security risk posed by CVE-2023-27591.