Chartbrew: Full account takeover via JWTs accepted under default CB_SECRET

Overview

Chartbrew is an open-source web application that can connect directly to databases and APIs and use the data to create charts. Prior to 5.2.3, four authentication helpers accepted session tokens signed with CB_SECRET, including known, weak, or shipped-default values. The vulnerable surface is session JWT fallback in server/modules/verifyToken.js, verifyUser.js, getUserFromToken.js, and socketManager.js across the API and socket layer. A stock source or repository Docker Compose deployment retains a known, weak, or default CB_SECRET and an attacker submits a forged HS256 token decoding to a target user id. Knowing the symmetric secret lets the attacker create a token that the legacy verification fallback accepts as the target user without that user's password or two-factor authentication. The condition includes stock source and repository Docker Compose installs and any otherwise known or weak CB_SECRET; a bare container where CB_SECRET is undefined is not affected by this fallback path. A forged session impersonates the chosen user across the entire API and socket layer and exercises that user's Chartbrew privileges. This issue is fixed in version 5.2.3.

Affected

• chartbrew < 5.2.3

Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.