Metabase is a popular open-source business intelligence tool used by organizations to create dashboards and reports. It is primarily used by data analysts, business users, and IT departments to visualize and analyze data stored in various databases. The software supports multiple data sources, including traditional SQL databases and new-generation file-based systems, making it versatile for different businesses. Additionally, it's valued for its ease of use, allowing users with limited technical expertise to produce interactive visualizations. Metabase is often integrated into company intranets or used in cloud-based setups to provide company-wide access to important data insights. Its open-source nature allows for flexibility and customization in deployment and usage.
The SQL Injection vulnerability within Metabase allows attackers to execute unauthorized SQL commands. The flaw is found in the "/reset_password" database endpoint due to improper input sanitization. This security gap enables attackers to manipulate SQL queries by inputting malicious SQL statements. As a result, unauthorized entities can interfere with the application's back-end database operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it does not require authentication or special privileges to exploit. Organizations using affected versions of Metabase are at risk of compromising sensitive data and functionality.
Technical details of this SQL Injection vulnerability reveal that the flaw exists in the reset_password endpoint of Metabase. The vulnerability arises from the application accepting user input improperly through the 'token' field in HTTP POST requests without adequate sanitization. This allows the injection and execution of arbitrary SQL as the application processes the reset_password function. Matchers used to detect this condition include checking for specific HTTP status codes and response content indicating SQL command execution attempts. The flaw is exploitable by sending appropriately crafted requests to the vulnerable endpoint.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized administrative access to affected Metabase instances. Malicious individuals could conduct activities such as data extraction, unauthorized data manipulation, and possibly creating or deleting database records. Exposure to this kind of vulnerability may also result in database corruption or the compromise of data confidentiality, leading to significant business impact. Organizations face the risk of data breaches, and modifications to their BI environment if the vulnerability remains unpatched.
REFERENCES
- Update to the latest version of Metabase to ensure that the vulnerability is patched.
- Regularly review and sanitize unexpected input fields to prevent injection of scripts or SQL queries.
- Implement additional security measures, such as web application firewalls, to detect and block SQL injection attempts.
- Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential weaknesses.
- Educate users and administrators about the risks of SQL injection and best practices to mitigate them.
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