CVE-2009-4139 in Network Satellite Server
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Spacewalk Java site packages (aka spacewalk-java) 1.2.39 in Spacewalk, as used in the server in Red Hat Network Satellite 5.3.0 through 5.4.1 and other products, allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of arbitrary users for requests that (1) disable the current user account, (2) add user accounts, or (3) modify user accounts to have administrator privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2021
The CVE-2009-4139 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the Spacewalk Java site packages version 1.2.39, specifically affecting Red Hat Network Satellite 5.3.0 through 5.4.1 and related systems. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and fundamentally undermines the authentication mechanisms of the affected systems by enabling unauthorized actors to perform privileged operations on behalf of legitimate users. The flaw exists within the web application's failure to properly validate and authenticate requests originating from external sources, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate user sessions and execute unauthorized administrative actions.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF tokens or validation mechanisms within the Spacewalk Java web interface. When users authenticate to the system, their session remains active and trusted by the application, but the lack of unique, unpredictable tokens tied to each request allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the server. These requests can be delivered through various means including crafted email attachments, malicious websites, or social engineering campaigns that trick users into inadvertently triggering the malicious actions. The vulnerability specifically targets three high-impact operations: disabling user accounts, creating new user accounts, and modifying existing accounts to grant administrator privileges, all of which can completely compromise system security and user access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or modification, as it enables complete account takeover and privilege escalation scenarios that can lead to full system compromise. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can disable legitimate user accounts to prevent access, create new administrator accounts to maintain persistent access, or modify existing accounts to gain elevated privileges. This creates a scenario where unauthorized individuals can effectively take control of the entire Spacewalk management system, potentially gaining access to sensitive configuration data, user information, and system resources. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it operates at the administrative level, allowing attackers to manipulate the very authentication and authorization mechanisms that protect the system.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The flaw also aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1548 for abuse of privileges, as attackers can leverage legitimate user sessions to perform administrative functions without proper authorization. Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant risk of unauthorized system access, data manipulation, and potential complete system compromise. The remediation strategy must include immediate implementation of proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms, session management improvements, and comprehensive security testing of web applications. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect suspicious authentication patterns and ensure that all affected systems receive appropriate security patches or updates to address this critical vulnerability that could enable widespread unauthorized access to enterprise management systems.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of proper web application security practices and the necessity of implementing robust anti-CSRF protections in all web-based management interfaces. This flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation oversights in authentication mechanisms can create pathways for complete system compromise, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing and adherence to established security standards throughout the software development lifecycle.