CVE-2022-29174 is a vulnerability identified in the Countly Server, which is the backend component of Countly, a widely used product analytics platform. The vulnerability stems from a weak password recovery mechanism (classified under CWE-640) in versions prior to 21.11.4 and between 22.0.0 and 22.03.7. Specifically, an attacker who possesses knowledge of a valid account's email address or username along with the full name stored in the database can potentially guess the password reset token. This token is intended to be a secure, random string that authorizes password resets. However, due to insufficient randomness or predictability in token generation, the attacker can successfully predict or brute-force the token. Once the token is guessed, the attacker can reset the password for the targeted account, effectively taking over the account and gaining unauthorized access to the analytics data and potentially sensitive information managed by Countly Server. This vulnerability affects both the old and new user interfaces of Countly Server, with patches released in versions 21.11.4 (old UI) and 22.03.7 (new UI) to address the issue by improving the token generation process and strengthening the password recovery workflow. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date, but the vulnerability presents a significant risk if exploited due to the sensitive nature of analytics data and potential access to organizational insights.

For European organizations using Countly Server, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized account takeover, which can lead to exposure or manipulation of critical product analytics data. Such data often includes user behavior, application usage statistics, and other business intelligence that can be leveraged for competitive advantage or operational decisions. Compromise of these accounts could result in data integrity issues, loss of confidentiality, and potential disruption of analytics services. Furthermore, attackers gaining access could pivot to other internal systems if the Countly Server accounts are linked to broader identity or access management systems. The impact extends to regulatory compliance concerns, especially under GDPR, where unauthorized access to personal data or analytics involving EU citizens could lead to legal and financial penalties. The medium severity rating reflects the fact that exploitation requires some prior knowledge (email/username and full name) and the absence of known active exploits reduces immediate risk, but the potential for account takeover and data compromise remains significant.

European organizations should immediately verify their Countly Server versions and upgrade to at least 21.11.4 or 22.03.7 depending on their user interface version to apply the official patches. Beyond patching, organizations should audit their password recovery workflows to ensure tokens are generated with sufficient entropy and are time-limited. Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) on Countly accounts can significantly reduce the risk of account takeover even if password reset tokens are compromised. Monitoring and alerting on unusual password reset requests or multiple failed token validation attempts can help detect exploitation attempts early. Additionally, organizations should review and restrict access to user account information such as full names and email addresses to minimize the information available to attackers. Regular security training for administrators and users on phishing and social engineering risks related to password recovery processes is also recommended. Finally, integrating Countly Server authentication with centralized identity providers that enforce strong authentication policies can further mitigate risks.