CVE-2007-4204 in Groupmax Collaboration Web Client
Summary
by MITRE
Hitachi Groupmax Collaboration - Schedule, as used in Groupmax Collaboration Portal 07-32 through 07-32-/B, uCosminexus Collaboration Portal 06-32 through 06-32-/B, and Groupmax Collaboration Web Client - Mail/Schedule 07-32 through 07-32-/A, can assign schedule data to the wrong user under unspecified conditions, which might allow remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-4204 affects Hitachi Groupmax Collaboration systems including the Groupmax Collaboration Portal versions 07-32 through 07-32-/B, uCosminexus Collaboration Portal versions 06-32 through 06-32-/B, and the Groupmax Collaboration Web Client - Mail/Schedule versions 07-32 through 07-32-/A. This issue represents a critical authorization and data integrity flaw that stems from improper handling of schedule data assignment within the collaboration platform. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to properly validate user identities during schedule data processing, leading to potential cross-user data exposure. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically relating to improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized data access. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application level where user authentication has already occurred, making it a privilege escalation or data leakage issue rather than a simple authentication bypass.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the schedule data assignment mechanism within the Hitachi collaboration software where schedule information can be incorrectly associated with user accounts under unspecified conditions. This misassignment occurs when the system fails to properly verify that schedule data belongs to the authenticated user attempting to access it. The flaw likely exists in the backend data processing logic where user context information may not be properly validated or maintained during schedule data operations. Attackers who can authenticate to the system can exploit this condition to access schedule information belonging to other users, potentially gaining access to sensitive personal and business scheduling data including meeting times, locations, and participant information. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not need physical access to the system and can leverage network connectivity to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where such collaboration platforms are extensively used.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise business continuity and user privacy. Organizations using these Hitachi collaboration systems face significant risks including unauthorized access to confidential business schedules, potential exposure of strategic meeting information, and compromise of personal user data. The vulnerability affects critical business processes that rely on accurate schedule management and user-specific data handling. From an attacker perspective, this represents a sophisticated information gathering capability that can be used to build profiles of user activities, identify key personnel, and potentially plan targeted attacks. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions of the software suggests a systemic flaw in the data handling architecture rather than a simple coding error, indicating that organizations may need to address broader architectural concerns. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories, where adversaries can obtain sensitive information through legitimate access points.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-4204 should focus on immediate patching of affected systems, implementing additional access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized access patterns. Organizations should ensure all affected versions of the Hitachi Groupmax Collaboration software are updated to the latest available patches from Hitachi, as this vulnerability represents a known flaw in the software ecosystem. Network segmentation and enhanced logging should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly around schedule data access patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and user context management in collaborative software systems, suggesting that organizations should review their own application security practices for similar flaws. Additionally, regular security assessments of collaboration platforms should include thorough testing of data assignment and access control mechanisms to identify potential cross-user data exposure issues. Organizations should also consider implementing data loss prevention measures that monitor for unauthorized access to sensitive schedule information, as the vulnerability essentially allows for unauthorized data access that could be exploited for further attacks or information gathering activities.