SurrealDB: Field-level SELECT permissions bypassed via indexed COUNT fast paths
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Fixed
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from GitHub. Impact type from CWE-863.
Summary
A record user could learn the value of a hidden field by counting how many records match a guess. When `DEFINE FIELD ... PERMISSIONS FOR select WHERE ...` hides a field's contents from a caller, and that field is indexed, running `SELECT count() FROM t WHERE hidden_field = "guess" GROUP ALL` returned a count greater than zero whenever a record actually had that value — even though the caller was never allowed to read the field directly. The query planner used an indexed-COUNT shortcut (`Index::Count`, `IndexCountScan`, or the legacy `Iterate Index Count` / `Iterate Index Keys` paths) that counts matching index entries and skips the permission check that would normally hide the value. The same query with `WITH NOINDEX` correctly returned `[]`, confirming the gap. By repeating the count query with different guesses, an attacker can confirm or recover the contents of any restricted field they could not read through a normal `SELECT`. ### Impact What an attacker **can** do: - Confirm or recover values of a field protected by field-level SELECT permissions on any table they hold table-level SELECT on, provided the field is indexed. - Repeat the query with different guesses to read restricted field contents one value at a time. What it **can't** do: - Read fields that are not indexed (the shortcut only fires when an index covers the predicate column). - Cross table, database or namespace isolation boundaries. - Modify data, escalate privileges, or affect availability. ### Patches The legacy planner (`surrealdb/core/src/idx/planner/tree.rs`) and the streaming planner (`surrealdb/core/src/exec/planner/select/mod.rs`) now both refuse the indexed fast path when the WHERE / ORDER tree references a field governed by a non-`Full` SELECT permission: - `resolve_indexes` skips any B-tree / unique index whose columns are governed by such a permission. - A new `cond_touches_restricted_field` flag is propagated; `eval_count` refuses a dedicated `Index::Count` when set. - The streaming planner adds `cond_touches_restricted_select_field`, a `RestrictedIdiomChecker` visitor that matches each idiom against the table's field-permission prefixes (loaded via the plan-time txn), and gates `IndexCountScan` emission on it. - The fast paths are preserved for root / owner sessions via `should_check_perms_for_view`. Versions 3.1.0 and later are not affected. ### Workarounds Users unable to patch are advised to consider the following workarounds: - Avoid `DEFINE INDEX` on fields whose values are protected by field-level SELECT permissions. The class of attack is specific to the indexed fast paths. - Restrict the ability of record users to issue arbitrary `SELECT count() … GROUP ALL` queries against tables containing field-protected columns. - Use namespace / database isolation as the primary boundary where feasible.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | surrealdb (crates.io) | before 3.1.0 | 3.1.0 | Patch available | GHSA-c8jx-96c9-8xrp |
- surrealdb (crates.io) Vendor— Affected before 3.1.0 Fixed in 3.1.0 Patch available GHSA-c8jx-96c9-8xrp
Remediation
- Fix · GHSA-c8jx-96c9-8xrp surrealdb (crates.io) Fixed in 3.1.0 Advisory →
Timeline
- 2026-10-03 Threatist record created from GHSA-c8jx-96c9-8xrp
References
Sources
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