Horizon Alert
Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters
This advisory concerns a vulnerability in Grafana, a popular data visualization and dashboarding tool. The issue resides in an experimental feature that processes user-provided queries without sufficient sanitization, potentially allowing unauthorized command execution and local file access by authenticated users. The risk is contingent on the presence of a specific, optional `duckdb` tool within the Grafana environment.
- An experimental Grafana feature can be manipulated.
- It could allow unauthorized actions on the system.
- Confirm relevance and assess any potential exposure.
Attack Path
How an attacker could exploit the issue
An attacker with viewer-level access in Grafana can exploit a weakness in how user-supplied data is handled within the SQL Expressions feature. By crafting a malicious `duckdb` query, an attacker could potentially execute arbitrary commands on the server or access local files. This attack relies on the `duckdb` binary being installed and accessible in the system's PATH, which is not a default configuration.
- Requires viewer-level access.
- Triggered via crafted SQL expressions.
- Risk of command injection and file access.
Live Threat
Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context
When the SQL Expressions experimental feature is enabled and the `duckdb` binary is present in the system's PATH, an authenticated user with VIEWER permissions could execute arbitrary commands on the server by submitting unsanitized user input in SQL queries. This could allow an attacker to potentially read or write files on the server.
- Server-side commands and files.
- User input in SQL expressions.
- Unauthorized command execution.
Operational Fix
Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps
The Grafana team, alongside infrastructure or platform teams managing the Grafana deployment, should take the lead on addressing this vulnerability. The first practical step is to inventory Grafana instances, confirm the SQL Expressions experimental feature and the `duckdb` binary are present, and identify which instances are internet-facing or handle business-critical data. Subsequently, engaging with application owners to plan remediation or apply mitigating controls based on the assessed risk is crucial.
- Grafana and Infrastructure teams own this.
- Verify SQL Expressions and `duckdb` presence.
- Plan remediation or mitigation by risk.
