CVE-2024-47881
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in OpenRefine's database extension allows attackers to load arbitrary SQLite extension DLLs, potentially leading to remote code execution on the server. Attackers need network access to the OpenRefine instance. Affects OpenRefine versions 3.4-beta through 3.8.2.
💻 Affected Systems
- OpenRefine
📦 What is this software?
Openrefine by Openrefine
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full server compromise with attacker gaining complete control over the OpenRefine instance and potentially the underlying host system.
Likely Case
Remote code execution allowing data theft, system manipulation, or lateral movement within the network.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper network segmentation and access controls prevent unauthorized connections.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires network access but no authentication. The vulnerability is in SQLite integration configuration.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 3.8.3
Vendor Advisory: https://github.com/OpenRefine/OpenRefine/security/advisories/GHSA-87cf-j763-vvh8
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Download OpenRefine 3.8.3 or later from official sources. 2. Stop the OpenRefine service. 3. Replace the installation with the patched version. 4. Restart the OpenRefine service.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable database extension
allRemove or disable the database extension if not required for functionality.
Remove the database extension from OpenRefine's extensions directory
Network access restrictions
linuxRestrict network access to OpenRefine instances using firewall rules.
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 3333 -s trusted_network -j ACCEPT
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 3333 -j DROP
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network access controls to limit connections to trusted sources only.
- Monitor for unusual SQLite extension loading attempts and network connections to OpenRefine instances.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check OpenRefine version: if between 3.4-beta and 3.8.2 inclusive, the system is vulnerable.Check Version:
Check the OpenRefine web interface or startup logs for version information.Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm OpenRefine version is 3.8.3 or later and verify the 'enable_load_extension' property is properly restricted.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- SQLite extension loading attempts
- Unusual database operations
- Error messages related to extension loading
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected connections to OpenRefine default port (3333)
- SQLite extension file transfers
SIEM Query:
source="openrefine.log" AND ("load_extension" OR "SQLite extension")