CVE-2022-32563: Couchbase Sync Gateway X.509 Client Cert Authentication Bypass

Background

Couchbase Sync Gateway is an open-source data synchronization service that enables secure and efficient data transfer between mobile devices, web applications, and backend systems. It acts as a gateway between clients and Couchbase Server, providing authentication, authorization, and data synchronization capabilities. The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-32563 affects Couchbase Sync Gateway versions prior to 3.0.2.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability in Couchbase Sync Gateway allows for privilege escalation of unauthenticated users when using X.509 client-certificate authentication. When Sync Gateway is configured to authenticate with Couchbase Server using X.509 client certificates, the admin credentials provided to the Admin REST API are not verified. This oversight enables unauthenticated users to bypass authentication and gain elevated privileges. It is important to note that the Public REST API remains unaffected by this vulnerability. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) identifier for this vulnerability is CVE-2022-32563, and it has a CVSS score of 9.8, indicating a critical severity level.

pip install --upgrade "couchbase==4.6.3"

pip install --upgrade "couchbase==3.0.2"

Workaround

If upgrading to the latest version is not immediately feasible, a workaround is to replace X.509 certificate-based authentication with Username and Password authentication inside the bootstrap configuration. This can be achieved by modifying the configuration file to use Username and Password authentication instead of X.509 client certificates. Here is an example of how to modify the configuration file:

"adminInterface": "0.0.0.0:4985",
"databases": {
  "db": {
    "server": "http://localhost:8091",
    "bucket": "my-bucket",
    "username": "admin",
    "password": "my-password"
  }
}

By specifying the "username" and "password" fields, you can switch to Username and Password authentication.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the CVE-2022-32563 vulnerability in Couchbase Sync Gateway allows unauthenticated users to bypass authentication and gain elevated privileges when using X.509 client-certificate authentication. To mitigate this vulnerability, it is recommended to upgrade to Couchbase Sync Gateway version 3.0.2 or later. Alternatively, a workaround is available by replacing X.509 certificate-based authentication with Username and Password authentication. For further assistance and support in vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.

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