CVE-2022-27479: Apache Superset SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2022-27479 Overview

Apache Superset before version 1.4.2 is vulnerable to SQL injection in chart data requests. This vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious SQL queries through the chart data request functionality, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or complete database compromise. Users should update to version 1.4.2 or higher which addresses this issue.

Critical Impact

This SQL injection vulnerability enables unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially resulting in complete data exfiltration, data manipulation, or denial of service.

Affected Products

• Apache Superset versions prior to 1.4.2

Discovery Timeline

• April 13, 2022 - CVE-2022-27479 published to NVD
• November 21, 2024 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-27479

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89 (SQL Injection), one of the most dangerous web application vulnerabilities. The flaw exists in Apache Superset's chart data request handling functionality, where user-supplied input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into SQL queries.

The vulnerability can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. When successfully exploited, attackers can bypass application-level security controls and interact directly with the backend database, potentially affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the data.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper input validation and insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data within chart data requests. The application fails to properly escape or parameterize user input before constructing SQL queries, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL code that gets executed by the database engine.

Attack Vector

The attack is performed over the network by crafting malicious chart data requests containing SQL injection payloads. An attacker sends specially crafted HTTP requests to the Superset application's chart data endpoints. The malicious input is then incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization, allowing the injected SQL commands to execute with the same privileges as the database user configured for Superset.

The vulnerability manifests in the chart data request handling mechanism. Attackers can construct malicious payloads that manipulate the SQL query structure to extract sensitive data, modify existing records, or perform administrative operations on the database. For detailed technical analysis, see the Apache Security Thread and the OpenWall OSS-Security Discussion.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-27479

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed chart data requests containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, double dashes, or UNION keywords
• Database error messages appearing in application logs or responses indicating SQL query failures
• Unexpected database queries in database audit logs, particularly those accessing system tables or sensitive data
• Abnormal network traffic patterns to the Superset application endpoints

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests
• Enable comprehensive logging on the Apache Superset application and monitor for suspicious chart data request activity
• Deploy database activity monitoring to detect unauthorized query patterns or data access attempts
• Utilize SentinelOne Singularity XDR to detect exploitation attempts through behavioral analysis of application and database interactions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable and review Apache Superset application logs for malformed requests or error messages related to SQL parsing
• Configure database audit logging to capture all queries executed by the Superset application user
• Set up alerts for failed authentication attempts or privilege escalation patterns in database logs
• Monitor network traffic for unusually large data transfers from the database server

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-27479

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Apache Superset to version 1.4.2 or later immediately
• If immediate upgrade is not possible, restrict network access to the Superset application to trusted users only
• Review database access logs for signs of prior exploitation
• Implement network segmentation to limit database access from compromised application servers

Patch Information

Apache has released version 1.4.2 which addresses this SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations running affected versions should prioritize upgrading to this patched version. For additional information, consult the Apache Security Thread Update 1 and Apache Security Thread Update 2.

Workarounds

• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules as a temporary protective measure
• Restrict network access to Apache Superset to trusted internal networks or VPN connections only
• Implement strict database user permissions to limit the impact of successful SQL injection attacks
• Consider disabling or restricting access to chart data functionality until patching is complete

# Example: Restrict database user permissions (PostgreSQL)
# Limit Superset database user to minimum required privileges
REVOKE ALL PRIVILEGES ON ALL TABLES IN SCHEMA public FROM superset_user;
GRANT SELECT ON specific_tables TO superset_user;
# Note: Adjust permissions based on your specific deployment requirements