CVE-2024-47073: DataEase Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-47073 Overview

CVE-2024-47073 is a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in DataEase, an open source data visualization and analysis tool. The vulnerability stems from the lack of signature verification for JWT (JSON Web Token) tokens, allowing attackers to forge arbitrary JWT tokens and gain unauthorized access to any interface within the application.

Critical Impact

Attackers can forge JWT tokens to bypass authentication entirely, gaining unauthorized access to all application interfaces and potentially compromising sensitive business data and analytics.

Affected Products

• DataEase versions prior to v2.10.2
• All DataEase installations without the security patch applied

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-11-07 - CVE-2024-47073 published to NVD
• 2025-02-20 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-47073

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-347 (Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature). DataEase fails to properly verify the cryptographic signature of JWT tokens during the authentication process. JWT tokens are commonly used for stateless authentication, where the server validates the token's signature to ensure it was issued by a trusted authority and hasn't been tampered with.

When signature verification is absent or improperly implemented, attackers can craft malicious JWT tokens with arbitrary claims, including elevated privileges or impersonated user identities. The application accepts these forged tokens as legitimate, granting full access to protected resources.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in the JWT validation logic within DataEase. The application either completely skips the signature verification step or uses an insecure configuration that allows unsigned or weakly signed tokens to be accepted. This architectural flaw means the integrity of authentication tokens cannot be guaranteed, rendering the entire authentication mechanism ineffective.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no user interaction or prior privileges. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely by:

1. Constructing a JWT token with desired claims (e.g., administrator privileges)
2. Setting the algorithm to "none" or using a known/weak key if applicable
3. Sending requests to DataEase interfaces with the forged token in the authorization header
4. Gaining unauthorized access to all application functionality

The lack of signature verification means any crafted token that conforms to the expected JWT structure will be accepted, allowing complete authentication bypass. This enables attackers to access sensitive data visualizations, modify dashboards, extract business intelligence data, and potentially pivot to other connected systems.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-47073

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual API requests with JWT tokens that have "alg": "none" in the header
• Authentication logs showing access patterns inconsistent with legitimate user behavior
• JWT tokens with suspicious or unexpected claims in the payload section
• Multiple successful authentications from different geographic locations in short timeframes

Detection Strategies

• Implement JWT token inspection at the network perimeter to detect unsigned or malformed tokens
• Monitor authentication logs for anomalous access patterns, particularly privileged operations from unknown sources
• Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to flag requests with suspicious JWT characteristics
• Enable detailed logging of all API requests including the full JWT header for forensic analysis

Monitoring Recommendations

• Set up alerts for authentication events involving administrative or sensitive interfaces
• Monitor for bulk data exports or unusual query patterns that may indicate data exfiltration
• Track failed authentication attempts followed by successful access as potential exploitation indicators
• Review access logs for requests originating from suspicious IP addresses or Tor exit nodes

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-47073

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade DataEase to version v2.10.2 or later immediately
• Audit authentication logs for signs of exploitation prior to patching
• Review all user accounts and permissions for unauthorized changes
• Consider rotating all JWT signing secrets after the upgrade as a precautionary measure
• Implement network-level access controls to limit exposure while patching

Patch Information

The DataEase development team has addressed this vulnerability in version v2.10.2. Users should upgrade to this version or later to ensure proper JWT signature verification is enforced. The security advisory is available at the GitHub Security Advisory for GHSA-5jr4-wrm2-xj36.

Workarounds

• There are no known workarounds for this vulnerability; upgrading is the only mitigation
• Until patching is complete, restrict network access to DataEase instances using firewall rules
• Consider temporarily disabling public access to the application if possible
• Implement additional authentication layers such as VPN or IP allowlisting as temporary measures

# Upgrade DataEase to patched version
# Follow vendor documentation for your deployment method
# Verify version after upgrade
dataease version
# Expected output should show v2.10.2 or higher