CVE-2024-8057 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Function) affecting danswer-ai/danswer version 0.4.1. The core issue is that the system permits unauthenticated attackers to register as basic users and subsequently create credentials linked to existing connectors, which should be an admin-only operation. This lack of proper authentication and authorization controls allows attackers to misuse system functions, potentially leading to excessive resource consumption. Such misuse can degrade system performance or cause Denial of Service (DoS), impacting availability and system stability. The vulnerability does not expose confidential data or allow data modification but compromises service reliability. The CVSS 3.0 score is 4.3 (medium), reflecting network attack vector, low complexity, requiring privileges (basic user), no user interaction, and impact limited to availability. No known exploits are reported in the wild yet. The vulnerability highlights insufficient access control mechanisms in the user management and connector linking processes within danswer-ai/danswer. Since the affected versions are unspecified beyond 0.4.1, users should assume all versions up to and including 0.4.1 are vulnerable until patched. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for organizations deploying danswer-ai/danswer in multi-user environments where user registration is enabled without strict validation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the availability and stability of systems running danswer-ai/danswer, especially in environments where the software is used for knowledge management or AI-driven data connectors. An attacker exploiting this flaw could create numerous unauthorized credentials linked to connectors, causing resource exhaustion and potential service outages. This could disrupt business operations, delay decision-making processes, and reduce trust in AI-based tools. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, research, and critical infrastructure that rely on AI knowledge platforms may face operational risks. While confidentiality and data integrity are not directly impacted, the denial of service could indirectly affect compliance with service availability requirements under regulations like GDPR and NIS Directive. The medium severity suggests the threat is significant but not critical, allowing time for mitigation but requiring prompt attention to avoid escalation or exploitation in combination with other vulnerabilities.

1. Immediately restrict or disable public user sign-up functionality until a secure authentication mechanism is implemented. 2. Implement strict role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure that only authorized admin users can create or link credentials to connectors. 3. Monitor and limit resource usage associated with user account creation and connector linking to detect and prevent abuse or resource exhaustion. 4. Apply input validation and enforce authentication checks on all critical functions, especially those related to credential management. 5. Deploy network-level protections such as rate limiting and IP blacklisting to reduce the risk of automated exploitation attempts. 6. Stay updated with vendor advisories and apply patches or updates as soon as they become available. 7. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on authentication and authorization mechanisms within the application. 8. Educate administrators and users about the risks of unauthorized account creation and encourage reporting of suspicious activities.