CVE-2023-52251 Scanner

Kafka UI is an open-source tool used by developers to manage and browse data on Apache Kafka clusters. It is utilized by organizations across various sectors for handling and monitoring Kafka streams. Kafka UI provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of managing Kafka topics, clusters, and message streams. Companies rely on this tool for efficient Kafka data handling to ensure data workflow continuity. The UI’s management functionalities are crucial for real-time and batch data processing which is essential in industries such as finance, telecom, and retail. It provides insights and control over distributed Kafka environments, making it a valuable resource for DevOps teams.

Command Injection is a serious vulnerability that allows an attacker to execute arbitrary commands within the host system. This vulnerability arises when user-controlled input is improperly sanitized before being passed to a command execution function. In this case, attackers can inject their payload that is executed directly on the server’s operating system with the privileges of the application. This can give an attacker unauthorized control over the host system to manipulate data or execute malicious operations. It's a critical flaw that exposes systems to potentially devastating effects like data breaches and system compromisation. Therefore, identifying and mitigating this vulnerability is crucial to maintaining application security.

The discovered vulnerability specifically affects the q parameter in the /api/clusters/local/topics/{topic}/messages endpoint of Kafka UI. By manipulating this parameter, an attacker can inject malicious code that is executed on the server. The endpoint is responsible for handling and retrieving Kafka message data, making it a critical component of the application. During exploitation, the attacker crafts a specially designed query that bypasses input validation checks. The injected code is executed with the same level of permission that the application has, exposing the server to significant risks. This demonstrates a failure in the input validation process within the application’s API structure.

Exploitation of the Command Injection vulnerability in Kafka UI can lead to severe consequences. Malicious actors could gain complete control over the host system, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of Kafka service operations, and potentially leveraging the compromised application to pivot further into the network. The ability to execute arbitrary code elevates the threat, potentially causing data loss, data manipulation, or even causing the application to cease function. For organizations depending on Kafka UI for critical operations, this could signify a disruption in data flow, impacting business operations and potentially incurring significant financial losses. Prompt patching and remediation of this vulnerability are imperative to safeguard against such threats.

REFERENCES

• http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/177214/Kafka-UI-0.7.1-Command-Injection.html
• https://github.com/BobTheShoplifter/CVE-2023-52251-POC
• https://github.com/nomi-sec/PoC-in-GitHub