CVE-2024-23689 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting certain versions of ClichHouse's clickhouse-r2dbc, clickhouse-jdbc, and clickhouse-client libraries prior to version 0.4.6. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-209, which involves the generation of error messages containing sensitive information. Specifically, when the 'sslkey' parameter is used to specify a client certificate key and an exception such as ClickHouseException or SQLException is thrown during database operations, the exception message logged includes the client certificate password in plaintext. This exposure occurs because the exception handling mechanism inadvertently logs sensitive credential information within the error messages. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8, reflecting its high impact and relatively low complexity of exploitation. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), and requires privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk because unauthorized users who can access the exception logs may retrieve client certificate passwords, potentially leading to further compromise of the database system or connected infrastructure. The affected versions are those prior to 0.4.6, and the issue arises during database operations that trigger exceptions while using SSL client authentication. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure error handling and careful management of sensitive information in logs, especially in database connectivity libraries that handle authentication credentials.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could have serious consequences, particularly for those using ClickHouse databases with SSL client authentication in their data infrastructure. Exposure of client certificate passwords can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive databases, risking data confidentiality and integrity. This could result in data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Furthermore, attackers leveraging these credentials might escalate privileges or move laterally within networks, potentially disrupting critical business operations or causing data loss. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, telecommunications, and government, which often rely on secure database communications, are especially at risk. The high CVSS score indicates that exploitation could severely impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data and services. Since the vulnerability requires some level of privilege (PR:L), attackers may need limited access to the network or systems to retrieve logs, but no user interaction is needed, increasing the risk of automated or remote exploitation. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits following public disclosure.

European organizations should prioritize upgrading all affected ClickHouse client libraries (clickhouse-r2dbc, clickhouse-jdbc, and clickhouse-client) to version 0.4.6 or later, where this vulnerability is addressed. Until patches are applied, organizations should audit and restrict access to exception and error logs to prevent unauthorized users from viewing sensitive information. Implement strict access controls and monitoring on systems that store or transmit these logs. Additionally, review and modify logging configurations to exclude sensitive data such as client certificate passwords from error messages. Employ secure coding practices by sanitizing exception messages and avoid logging sensitive credentials. Network segmentation and the use of strong authentication mechanisms can limit the exposure of logs to untrusted users. Regularly monitor for suspicious access patterns to logs and database systems. Finally, conduct security awareness training for developers and administrators on secure error handling and credential management to prevent similar issues in the future.