# CVE-2020-9039: Missing authorization in n/a

> Unauthenticated access to Couchbase Server projector and indexer REST endpoints allows attackers to modify configuration and collect performance profiles.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Feb 2020
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-j2x2-7857-rm23

## What is CVE-2020-9039?

CVE-2020-9039 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Couchbase Couchbase Server, published on 22 Feb 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Couchbase Server 4.0.0, 4.1.0, 4.1.1, 4.5.0, 4.5.1, 4.6.0 through 4.6.5, 5.0.0, 5.1.1, 5.5.0 and 5.5.1 have Insecure Permissions for the projector and indexer REST endpoints (they allow unauthenticated access).The /settings REST endpoint exposed by the projector process is an endpoint that administrators can use for various tasks such as updating configuration and collecting performance profiles. The endpoint was unauthenticated and has been updated to only allow authenticated users to access these administrative APIs.

Weakness: CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-9039?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Couchbase Couchbase Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-9039?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-9039 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-9039 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-9039 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Couchbase Server - Broken Access Control (nuclei): http/cves/2020/CVE-2020-9039.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Couchbase Couchbase Server

- [CVE-2024-0519](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-0519/): Google Chromium V8 Out-of-Bounds Memory Access (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-3079](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3079/): Google Chromium V8 Type Confusion (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-2033](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2033/): Google Chromium V8 Type Confusion (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-49930](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49930/): Missing authorization in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-49931](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49931/): Missing authorization in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-9039 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-9039 is a critical missing authorization vulnerability in Couchbase Couchbase Server, published on 22 Feb 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2020-9039 exists.

Affected product: Couchbase Couchbase Server. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9039/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9039/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-9039
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-9039
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-9039

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9039/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.