CVE-2022-23510 is a medium-severity SQL Injection vulnerability affecting version 0.31.23 of cube-js, a headless business intelligence platform. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands (CWE-89) within the newly introduced /v1/sql-runner endpoint. This endpoint allows authenticated Cube clients to execute arbitrary SQL queries. Due to insufficient input validation and lack of proper parameterization, attackers with valid authentication can bypass SQL row-level security controls and run arbitrary SQL commands against the backend database. This can lead to unauthorized data access, data modification, or potentially data destruction depending on the privileges of the database user. The issue was introduced in version 0.31.23 and resolved in version 0.31.24. No known workarounds exist, so users must either upgrade to 0.31.24 or downgrade to 0.31.22 to mitigate the risk. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting. The vulnerability requires authentication, meaning that attackers must have valid credentials or compromised accounts to exploit it. However, once authenticated, the attacker can fully bypass row-level security, which is a critical access control mechanism in BI platforms. This vulnerability impacts the confidentiality and integrity of data managed by cube-js, as arbitrary SQL execution can expose sensitive business intelligence data or alter it maliciously. Availability impact is possible if destructive SQL commands are executed. The scope is limited to installations running the vulnerable version 0.31.23 of cube-js. The vulnerability is significant because cube-js is used to build data analytics and reporting solutions, often integrated with sensitive business data sources.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk to the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive business intelligence data. Organizations relying on cube-js for analytics could face unauthorized data disclosure or manipulation if attackers gain authenticated access. This could lead to regulatory compliance issues under GDPR due to potential exposure of personal or sensitive data. The ability to bypass row-level security undermines internal data access controls, increasing insider threat risks or damage from compromised accounts. In sectors such as finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and government, where BI data drives critical decisions, data integrity loss could have operational and reputational consequences. Although exploitation requires authentication, compromised credentials are a common attack vector, so the risk is non-trivial. The lack of workarounds means organizations must promptly upgrade or downgrade to safe versions to avoid exposure. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, as attackers may develop exploits targeting this vulnerability. The impact on availability is less likely but possible if destructive SQL commands are executed. Overall, the vulnerability threatens data confidentiality, integrity, and potentially availability within European organizations using cube-js 0.31.23.

Immediately upgrade all cube-js deployments from version 0.31.23 to version 0.31.24, which contains the fix for this vulnerability. If upgrading is not feasible, downgrade to version 0.31.22, which does not contain the vulnerable /v1/sql-runner endpoint implementation. Restrict access to the /v1/sql-runner endpoint by implementing network-level controls such as IP whitelisting or VPN access to limit authenticated users who can reach this endpoint. Enforce strong authentication mechanisms and monitor for unusual authentication activity to reduce risk of compromised credentials being used to exploit this vulnerability. Implement database-level access controls and least privilege principles to limit the potential damage from arbitrary SQL execution, ensuring the database user used by cube-js has minimal permissions. Conduct regular audits of cube-js logs and database logs to detect anomalous SQL queries or suspicious activity indicative of exploitation attempts. Incorporate runtime application self-protection (RASP) or web application firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the /v1/sql-runner endpoint. Educate developers and administrators about the risks of SQL injection and the importance of timely patching, especially for BI platforms handling sensitive data.