CVE-2008-1627 in Invenio
Summary
by MITRE
CDS Invenio 0.92.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to delete email notification alerts of arbitrary users via a modified internal UID.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1627 affects CDS Invenio version 0.92.1 and earlier, representing a critical authorization flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to manipulate email notification systems. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the application's internal user identification system. The vulnerability specifically targets the email alert notification functionality, allowing malicious actors with valid credentials to exploit a weakness in the internal user identifier handling process.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of internal user identifiers during email alert deletion operations. When authenticated users attempt to modify or delete email notifications, the system fails to properly verify that the target user account belongs to the authenticated user performing the action. This oversight creates a path for privilege escalation through unauthorized manipulation of user-specific data. The vulnerability operates at the application logic level, where the internal UID parameter is not adequately sanitized or validated before being processed in the deletion routine. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-285, which addresses insufficient authorization checks, and represents a classic case of improper access control implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, potentially enabling attackers to disrupt communication channels for other users within the system. An authenticated attacker could systematically delete notification alerts for targeted users, effectively silencing important system communications or preventing users from receiving critical updates. This capability undermines the integrity of the notification system and could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks including information gathering, disruption of services, or creating false impressions of system security. The vulnerability particularly affects collaborative environments where email alerts serve as critical communication mechanisms, potentially enabling attackers to interfere with research collaboration or system monitoring processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-1627 should focus on implementing robust input validation and access control measures. Organizations should immediately upgrade to CDS Invenio versions that address this vulnerability, as the original affected versions contain fundamental flaws in their authentication and authorization frameworks. The solution requires strengthening the validation of internal user identifiers by implementing proper access control checks that verify user ownership before permitting deletion operations. Security measures should include parameter sanitization, session validation, and comprehensive logging of all notification-related activities. Additionally, implementing the principle of least privilege ensures that users can only perform actions on resources they legitimately own, preventing unauthorized access to other users' data. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authorization controls and input validation in preventing unauthorized access to sensitive system functions. The issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to system resources, emphasizing the need for comprehensive access control mechanisms that prevent lateral movement and unauthorized data manipulation.