CVE-2023-27481

Extract password hashes through export querying in directus

MEDIUM
4.3
CVSS Score
Published: March 7, 2023 at 06:20 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 05:45 AM UTC
2 products affected across 2 vendorsDirectusDirectus

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Severity
MEDIUM4.3
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.6%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

Directus is a real-time API and App dashboard for managing SQL database content. In versions prior to 9.16.0 users with read access to the `password` field in `directus_users` can extract the argon2 password hashes by brute forcing the export functionality combined with a `_starts_with` filter. This allows the user to enumerate the password hashes. Accounts cannot be taken over unless the hashes can be reversed which is unlikely with current hardware. This problem has been patched by preventing any hashed/concealed field to be filtered against with the `_starts_with` or other string operator in version 9.16.0. Users are advised to upgrade. Users unable to upgrade may mitigate this issue by ensuring that no user has `read` access to the `password` field in `directus_users`.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

v < 9.16.0
Affected range stops below 9.16.0, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
v < 9.16.0
Affected range stops below 9.16.0, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

4.3MEDIUMGitHub_M
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
LOW
Integrity
NONE
Availability
NONE
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-200

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