BaseFortify

Executive Summary

PyMongo's connection string parsing decodes percent-encoded characters in the host portion before separating the host list. If an application uses a hostname from an unauthenticated user in a connection string, that user can add additional servers to the database client. The application may then send authentication and operations to a malicious server, which can observe limited data and return altered results.

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Impact Analysis

An attacker could manipulate the connection string to redirect database operations to a server they control. This may lead to data leakage, unauthorized access to sensitive information, or manipulation of query results. The impact depends on the application's use of PyMongo and the attacker's goals.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could violate data protection requirements by enabling unauthorized access to personal or health data. GDPR and HIPAA mandate strict controls over data access and integrity. A breach could result in legal penalties, reputational damage, and loss of trust.

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Mitigation Strategies

Immediately review and restrict user-supplied input in connection strings. Avoid placing untrusted hostnames in connection strings. Validate and sanitize all inputs before using them in database client configurations.

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