CVE-2022-46383 is a critical security vulnerability affecting multiple versions of RackN Digital Rebar, specifically versions through 4.6.14, 4.7 up to 4.7.22, 4.8 up to 4.8.5, 4.9 up to 4.9.12, and 4.10 up to 4.10.8. The vulnerability arises from incorrect access control in a public API endpoint that exposes a privileged token. This token, once obtained by an attacker, can be leveraged to escalate privileges within the Digital Rebar system, granting full administrative access. The exposed token effectively bypasses authentication and authorization mechanisms, allowing an unauthenticated remote attacker to gain control over the system. The CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8 (critical) reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with no requirements for privileges or user interaction and network attack vector. Digital Rebar is a platform used for infrastructure automation and provisioning, often deployed in data centers and enterprise environments to manage bare-metal servers and cloud infrastructure. The exposure of an administrative token compromises the entire management plane, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate infrastructure configurations, deploy malicious code, disrupt operations, or exfiltrate sensitive data. No known exploits in the wild have been reported yet, but the ease of exploitation and critical impact make this vulnerability a significant threat. The lack of publicly available patches at the time of disclosure increases the urgency for mitigation through configuration changes or access restrictions.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-46383 is substantial, especially for enterprises and service providers relying on Digital Rebar for infrastructure automation. Compromise of administrative access could lead to widespread disruption of IT operations, unauthorized changes to infrastructure provisioning, and potential data breaches. Critical sectors such as finance, telecommunications, manufacturing, and government agencies that use Digital Rebar for bare-metal provisioning or cloud infrastructure management are at heightened risk. The vulnerability could enable attackers to deploy ransomware or other malware at scale, disrupt critical services, or steal sensitive intellectual property. Given the central role of infrastructure automation in modern IT environments, exploitation could cascade into broader supply chain and operational risks. Additionally, the exposure of privileged tokens could facilitate lateral movement within networks, increasing the scope of compromise. The absence of required authentication and user interaction further exacerbates the threat, allowing remote attackers to exploit the vulnerability without insider access or user involvement.

1. Immediate Restriction of API Access: Limit exposure of the vulnerable public API endpoint by implementing network-level controls such as firewall rules or API gateways to restrict access to trusted IP addresses or VPNs. 2. Token Revocation and Rotation: Identify and revoke any exposed privileged tokens and enforce frequent token rotation policies to minimize the window of exploitation. 3. Upgrade or Patch: Monitor vendor communications closely for official patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 4. Implement Strong Access Controls: Enforce strict role-based access control (RBAC) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all administrative interfaces to reduce the risk of privilege escalation. 5. Monitor and Audit: Enable detailed logging and continuous monitoring of API access and administrative actions within Digital Rebar to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Network Segmentation: Isolate management infrastructure running Digital Rebar from general user networks and limit lateral movement opportunities. 7. Incident Response Preparedness: Prepare incident response plans specific to infrastructure automation compromise scenarios, including containment and recovery procedures. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on immediate containment of the vulnerable API, proactive token management, and operational controls tailored to infrastructure automation platforms.