CVE-2022-21673 is a vulnerability in Grafana, an open-source platform widely used for monitoring and observability. The flaw arises when the Forward OAuth Identity feature is enabled on a data source. Specifically, if an API token is used to send a query to such a data source without additional user credentials, the OAuth identity of the most recently logged-in user is forwarded unintentionally. This means that an attacker possessing a valid API token can retrieve data associated with another user’s OAuth identity, potentially accessing sensitive information beyond their intended scope. For exploitation, several conditions must be met: the Grafana instance must have OAuth enabled, at least one data source must support and have the Forward OAuth Identity feature enabled, and usable API keys must exist. The vulnerability affects Grafana versions from 7.2.0 up to but not including 7.5.13, and from 8.0.0 up to but not including 8.3.4. The issue has been addressed in versions 7.5.13 and 8.3.4. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200, indicating exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require possession of an API token, which may be obtained through other means or misconfigurations. The flaw impacts confidentiality primarily, as unauthorized data access is possible, but does not directly affect integrity or availability of the system.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those relying on Grafana for monitoring critical infrastructure, IT systems, or business operations. Unauthorized access to sensitive monitoring data could lead to exposure of internal system metrics, user activity logs, or other confidential operational data. This could facilitate further attacks, such as lateral movement, reconnaissance, or data leakage. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, energy, and government are particularly at risk due to the sensitive nature of their monitored data. The vulnerability could undermine trust in monitoring systems and complicate compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR, as unauthorized data exposure may constitute a breach. Although exploitation requires an API token, which limits the attack surface, API tokens are often used for automation and integration, and may be stored or transmitted insecurely, increasing risk. The absence of known exploits suggests limited active threat but does not preclude targeted attacks or future exploitation.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately upgrade Grafana instances to versions 7.5.13 or 8.3.4 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. 2) Audit and restrict API token usage, ensuring tokens have minimal necessary privileges and are rotated regularly. 3) Review and disable the Forward OAuth Identity feature on data sources unless explicitly required. 4) Implement strict access controls and monitoring on API tokens to detect anomalous usage patterns. 5) Enforce OAuth configurations carefully, ensuring that OAuth identities are not forwarded unintentionally. 6) Conduct internal penetration testing and vulnerability scanning focused on Grafana deployments to identify misconfigurations or token exposures. 7) Educate DevOps and security teams about secure API key management and the risks of forwarding OAuth identities. 8) Use network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access to Grafana API endpoints to trusted systems only. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on configuration hardening, token management, and operational security specific to this vulnerability.