CVE-2023-37470 | Metabase vulnerable to remote code execution via POST /api/setup/validate API endpoint

Metabase is an open-source business intelligence and analytics platform. Prior to versions 0.43.7.3, 0.44.7.3, 0.45.4.3, 0.46.6.4, 1.43.7.3, 1.44.7.3, 1.45.4.3, and 1.46.6.4, a vulnerability could potentially allow remote code execution on one's Metabase server. The core issue is that one of the supported data warehouses (an embedded in-memory database H2), exposes a number of ways for a connection string to include code that is then executed by the process running the embedded database. Because Metabase allows users to connect to databases, this means that a user supplied string can be used to inject executable code. Metabase allows users to validate their connection string before adding a database (including on setup), and this validation API was the primary vector used as it can be called without validation. Versions 0.43.7.3, 0.44.7.3, 0.45.4.3, 0.46.6.4, 1.43.7.3, 1.44.7.3, 1.45.4.3, and 1.46.6.4 fix this issue by removing the ability of users to add H2 databases entirely. As a workaround, it is possible to block these vulnerabilities at the network level by blocking the endpoints `POST /api/database`, `PUT /api/database/:id`, and `POST /api/setup/validateuntil`. Those who use H2 as a file-based database should migrate to SQLite.

Published: 2023-08-04 Last update: 2024-11-21 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]

Conclusion & alert: CVE-2023-37470 is rated High Risk (71.2/100): CVSS Critical severity, with medium exploitation likelihood (EPSS 3.12%). Mandatory action: High exploitation likelihood—assess exposure and prioritize remediation.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2023-37470

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-04-29 2.36% 3.12% +0.76%
2 2026-02-15 3.35% 2.36% -0.99%
3 2025-06-05 3.35%

Full EPSS history (17 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2023-37470

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
10.0 3.1 CRITICAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:C)
Breaking this can reach past the original component and bite other resources—bigger blast radius.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
3.9 6.0 [email protected]
9.8 3.1 CRITICAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
3.9 5.9 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2023-37470

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2023-37470

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
metabase metabase < 0.43.7.3 cpe:2.3:a:metabase:metabase:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*
metabase metabase < 1.43.7.3 cpe:2.3:a:metabase:metabase:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
metabase metabase >= 0.44.0, < 0.44.7.3 cpe:2.3:a:metabase:metabase:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*
metabase metabase >= 0.45.0, < 0.45.4.3 cpe:2.3:a:metabase:metabase:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*
metabase metabase >= 0.46.0, < 0.46.6.4 cpe:2.3:a:metabase:metabase:*:*:*:*:-:*:*:*
metabase metabase >= 1.44.0, < 1.44.7.3 cpe:2.3:a:metabase:metabase:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
metabase metabase >= 1.45.0, < 1.45.4.3 cpe:2.3:a:metabase:metabase:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*
metabase metabase >= 1.46.0, < 1.46.6.4 cpe:2.3:a:metabase:metabase:*:*:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*

References for CVE-2023-37470

cvelogic Threat Intelligence