CVE-2023-50291: Solr core Apache Solr Can Leak Certain Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-3hwc-rqwp-v36q
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-522
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-50291 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) apache solr can leak certain vulnerability (CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials) affecting Solr core libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The issue involves apache solr can leak certain passwords due to system property redaction logic inconsistencies. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 8.11.3, 9.3.0.

CVE-2023-50291 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-50291
GHSA Identifier GHSA-3hwc-rqwp-v36q
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials
Affected Product Solr core
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-50291

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Solr core dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

org.apache.solr:solr-core fixed: 8.11.3 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.solr</groupId>
    <artifactId>solr-core</artifactId>
    <version>8.11.3</version>
</dependency>
org.apache.solr:solr-core fixed: 9.3.0 
<dependency>
    <groupId>org.apache.solr</groupId>
    <artifactId>solr-core</artifactId>
    <version>9.3.0</version>
</dependency>
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.solr

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-50291, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.solr

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Solr core in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 8.11.3), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.solr command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials, where the product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval. In Solr core, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerability in Apache Solr. This issue affects Apache Solr from 6.0.0 through 8.11.2, from 9.0.0 before 9.3.0. One of the two endpoints that publishes the Solr process' Java system properties, /admin/info/properties, was only setup to hide system properties that had "password" contained in the name. There are a number of sensitive system properties, such as "basicauth" and "aws.secretKey" do not contain "password", thus their values were published via the "/admin/info/properties" endpoint. This endpoint populates the list of System Properties on the home screen of the Solr Admin page, making the exposed credentials visible in the UI. This /admin/info/properties endpoint is protected under the "config-read" permission. Therefore, Solr Clouds with Authorization enabled will only be vulnerable through logged-in users that have the "config-read" permission. Users are recommended to upgrade to version 9.3.0 or 8.11.3, both of which fix the issue. A single option now controls hiding Java system property for all endpoints, "-Dsolr.hiddenSysProps". By default all known sensitive properties are hidden (including "-Dbasicauth"), as well as any property with a name containing "secret" or "password". Users who cannot upgrade can also use the following Java system property to fix the issue:   `-Dsolr.redaction.system.pattern=.*(password|secret|basicauth).*`

CVE-2023-50291 Affected Solr core Versions

2 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
8.11.39.3.0
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
org.apache.solr:solr-core
maven/org.apache.solr/solr-core
Maven
≥ 6.0.0
< 8.11.3
8.11.3
org.apache.solr:solr-core
maven/org.apache.solr/solr-core
Maven
≥ 9.0.0
< 9.3.0
9.3.0

References

NVD — CVE-2023-50291 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-50291
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/solr/commit/659021c7d50164a3166887f24875228431b02102
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/apache/solr/commit/98c198810f2cd934d23d0d80aadb570a2bbb3b8e
Solr core Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/apache/solr
issues.apache.org/jira/browse/solr-16... WEB
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/SOLR-16809
Solr core Security Information SECURITY
https://solr.apache.org/security.html#cve-2023-50291-apache-solr-can-leak-certain-passwords-due-to-system-property-redaction-logic-inconsistencies
Solr core Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/02/09/4

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-50291?
CVE-2023-50291 is a security vulnerability in Solr core involving Apache Solr can leak certain passwords due to System Property redaction logic inconsistencies under CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials.
Which Solr core versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 8.11.3, 9.3.0 across affected packages: org.apache.solr:solr-core.
What version fixes CVE-2023-50291?
Upgrading to 8.11.3, 9.3.0 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is solr-core affected?
Yes, org.apache.solr:solr-core is affected in releases prior to 8.11.3, 9.3.0. Upgrade your dependency to 8.11.3, 9.3.0 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-50291?
CVE-2023-50291 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-50291?
CVE-2023-50291 is classified under CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials (The product transmits or stores authentication credentials, but it uses an insecure method that is susceptible to unauthorized interception and/or retrieval.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-50291?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree -Dincludes=org.apache.solr'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-3hwc-rqwp-v36q",
  "modified" : "2025-02-13T19:15:10Z",
  "published" : "2024-02-09T18:31:07Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-50291" ],
  "summary" : "Apache Solr can leak certain passwords due to System Property redaction logic inconsistencies",
  "details" : "Insufficiently Protected Credentials vulnerability in Apache Solr.\n\nThis issue affects Apache Solr from 6.0.0 through 8.11.2, from 9.0.0 before 9.3.0.\nOne of the two endpoints that publishes the Solr process' Java system properties, /admin/info/properties, was only setup to hide system properties that had \"password\" contained in the name.\nThere are a number of sensitive system properties, such as \"basicauth\" and \"aws.secretKey\" do not contain \"password\", thus their values were published via the \"/admin/info/properties\" endpoint.\nThis endpoint populates the list of System Properties on the home screen of the Solr Admin page, making the exposed credentials visible in the UI.\n\nThis /admin/info/properties endpoint is protected under the \"config-read\" permission.\nTherefore, Solr Clouds with Authorization enabled will only be vulnerable through logged-in users that have the \"config-read\" permission.\nUsers are recommended to upgrade to version 9.3.0 or 8.11.3, both of which fix the issue.\nA single option now controls hiding Java system property for all endpoints, \"-Dsolr.hiddenSysProps\".\nBy default all known sensitive properties are hidden (including \"-Dbasicauth\"), as well as any property with a name containing \"secret\" or \"password\".\n\nUsers who cannot upgrade can also use the following Java system property to fix the issue:\n  `-Dsolr.redaction.system.pattern=.*(password|secret|basicauth).*`",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.solr:solr-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "6.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "8.11.3"
      } ]
    } ]
  }, {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "Maven",
      "name" : "org.apache.solr:solr-core"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "9.0.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "9.3.0"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-50291"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/solr/commit/659021c7d50164a3166887f24875228431b02102"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/solr/commit/98c198810f2cd934d23d0d80aadb570a2bbb3b8e"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/apache/solr"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/SOLR-16809"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://solr.apache.org/security.html#cve-2023-50291-apache-solr-can-leak-certain-passwords-due-to-system-property-redaction-logic-inconsistencies"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/02/09/4"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-522" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2024-02-09T21:43:19Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2024-02-09T18:15:08Z"
  }
}