CVE-2011-1711 in Data Synchronizer
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Mobility Pack 1.1.2 and earlier in Novell Data Synchronizer 1.0.x, and 1.1.x through 1.1.1 build 428, allows remote authenticated users to access the accounts of other users via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1711 represents a critical authorization flaw within Novell Data Synchronizer's Mobility Pack component affecting versions 1.1.2 and earlier. This issue manifests as an information disclosure vulnerability that permits authenticated remote attackers to gain access to accounts belonging to other users within the system. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors suggests a fundamental flaw in the permission model or session management mechanisms that govern user access controls. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from inadequate input validation, improper access control enforcement, or flawed privilege separation within the application's architecture. The affected versions span across Novell Data Synchronizer 1.0.x series and 1.1.x versions through build 428, indicating this flaw persisted across multiple releases, suggesting a systemic issue in the software's security implementation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper user isolation mechanisms. Attackers who have successfully authenticated to the system can leverage this flaw to access resources or data that should be restricted to specific user accounts. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues, and may also relate to CWE-285, covering improper authorization scenarios. The attack vectors likely involve manipulation of session identifiers, user context switching, or exploitation of logic flaws in the mobility synchronization processes that handle user data transfers. These attacks typically require minimal privileges initially but can escalate to full account compromise, making them particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where user data confidentiality is paramount.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1711 extends beyond simple data theft, potentially enabling broader system compromise through lateral movement and credential harvesting. Organizations using affected Novell Data Synchronizer versions face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, potential compliance violations, and exposure of user credentials that could be used for further attacks. The vulnerability's remote nature means attackers do not require physical access or local system compromise to exploit it, making it particularly concerning for mobile workforce environments where the mobility pack is designed for remote synchronization. This flaw could facilitate attacks aligned with the ATT&CK framework's credential access and privilege escalation techniques, where initial access through legitimate authentication is leveraged to gain unauthorized access to additional user accounts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions of Novell Data Synchronizer that address the authorization flaw. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to mobility services and enforce strict access controls through firewall rules and network monitoring. Security configuration reviews should focus on validating session management, implementing proper user isolation, and ensuring that all authentication mechanisms properly enforce access controls. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar authorization flaws in other enterprise applications and implement continuous monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The remediation process should include user account reviews, session timeout configurations, and implementation of multi-factor authentication where possible to reduce the impact of any remaining authentication bypass vulnerabilities.