Grafana Local File Inclusion (LFI) Scanner

Grafana is a widely used open-source platform for monitoring and observability. It is employed by organizations to visualize and understand complex data metrics over time. The software is commonly used by IT administrators, DevOps engineers, and other technology professionals. Grafana's primary purpose is to help manage servers, applications, and services by providing a real-time dashboard where users can create and share complex datasets. Its extensibility and support for a plethora of data sources make it an integral tool for large-scale data management. In environments requiring constant monitoring, Grafana provides the necessary tools for efficient data analysis and visualization.

The Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to server files. This type of vulnerability can occur when a web application includes user-supplied data in the path of a file to be read by the server. By exploiting this, malicious users can access sensitive files on the server, such as configuration files or other protected data. The impact of an LFI vulnerability can be significant, potentially leading to unauthorized access to critical server information and subsequent information disclosure. This specific vulnerability could enable attackers to traverse through directories and access files outside of the intended file path. When left unchecked, LFI can become a gateway to more severe system breaches.

The technical details of the local file inclusion vulnerability in Grafana involve the misuse of directory traversal sequences. Attackers can manipulate endpoints that process file paths, injecting traversal sequences to navigate directories beyond their intended reach. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation on file path parameters, allowing the insertion of characters like ".." to escape the expected directory. Attackers exploit these endpoints to read files from directories that should not be accessible, using crafted requests that mimic legitimate user actions. The vulnerable parameter in Grafana could potentially expose files such as configuration files, leading to severe security implications.

When exploited, an LFI vulnerability can lead to the exposure of sensitive information contained within server files. Such information could include database credentials, API keys, and system configuration details. This not only poses a risk of unauthorized access to the application's data but could also enable attackers to move laterally within a network, launching more sophisticated attacks. In severe cases, successful exploitation could result in further injection vulnerabilities, compromising the integrity of the entire system. Additionally, attackers could leverage sensitive configuration details to remotely execute malicious code, further exacerbating the security risk.

REFERENCES

• https://grafana.com/blog/2021/12/08/an-update-on-0day-cve-2021-43798-grafana-directory-traversal/
• https://nosec.org/home/detail/4914.html
• https://github.com/jas502n/Grafana-VulnTips
• https://github.com/grafana/grafana/security/advisories/GHSA-8pjx-jj86-j47p
• https://twitter.com/naglinagli/status/1468155313182416899
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-43798