Summary
Prometheus is an open-source systems monitoring and alerting solution. It uses a pull-based model, where Prometheus periodically scrapes metrics from monitored targets.
Exposed Prometheus metrics can be a security vulnerability if sensitive information is included in the metrics. For example, if the metrics contain sensitive information such as passwords or API keys, an attacker who has access to the metrics could use this information to compromise the systems being monitored.
What is the current bug behavior?
In a properly configured Prometheus installation, the metrics are stored securely and are not accessible by unauthorized users. In this case, the behavior of exposed Prometheus metrics would be minimal, as the metrics would only be accessible to authorized users with the proper authentication and authorization controls in place.
However, in an installation with misconfigured security settings or an improper setup, the metrics may be publicly accessible, allowing anyone with access to the metrics to view sensitive information. In this case, the behavior of exposed Prometheus metrics would be a security vulnerability, as an attacker could use the sensitive information contained in the metrics to compromise the systems being monitored.
What is the expected correct behavior?
The expected behavior for Prometheus metrics is that they are stored securely and only accessible by authorized users. This is to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information contained in the metrics, and to prevent unauthorized access and misuse of the information.
In a properly configured Prometheus installation, the metrics are stored in a secure location, and access to the metrics is restricted by authentication and authorization controls. This ensures that only authorized users with the proper permissions can view the metrics, and that sensitive information contained in the metrics is protected.
It is important to ensure that Prometheus installations are configured and set up securely to prevent the exposure of sensitive information in the metrics. As an ethical hacker, if you encounter a Prometheus installation with exposed metrics, you should immediately report this to the system administrator and provide recommendations on how to secure the metrics.
