CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2022-3741NVD status: Modified

chatwoot/chatwoot: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts

CVE-2022-3741 is a critical-severity improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts vulnerability in chatwoot/chatwoot from Chatwoot, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version v2.10.0 as the first without the flaw, so updating chatwoot/chatwoot to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.23% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 69% of scored CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update chatwoot/chatwoot to v2.10.0 or a later version.
  2. Update Chatwoot to 2.10.0 or a later version.
  3. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Chatwootchatwoot/chatwootbefore v2.10.0v2.10.0
ChatwootChatwootbefore 2.10.02.10.0

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
NoneNo account or login is needed.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.19.8CriticalNVD
CVSS 3.09.4CriticalCNA (huntr.dev)

Official description

Impact varies for each individual vulnerability in the application. For generation of accounts, it may be possible, depending on the amount of system resources available, to create a DoS event in the server. These accounts still need to be activated; however, it is possible to identify the output Status Code to separate accounts that are generated and waiting for email verification. \n\nFor the sign in directories, it is possible to brute force login attempts to either login portal, which could lead to account compromise.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts

The product does not implement sufficient measures to prevent multiple failed authentication attempts within a short time frame.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Common protection mechanisms include: Disconnecting the user after a small number of failed attempts Implementing a timeout Locking out a targeted account Requiring a computational task on the user's part.
  • Use a vetted library or framework that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. Consider using libraries with authentication capabilities such as OpenSSL or the ESAPI Authenticator.

More Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts vulnerabilities (CWE-307)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Patches and release notes

Recent Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts vulnerabilities

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