CVE-2011-4498 in Zenprise Device Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the web console in Zenprise Device Manager 6.x through 6.1.8 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators for requests that wipe mobile devices.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
The CVE-2011-4498 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw in the Zenprise Device Manager web console affecting versions 6.x through 6.1.8. This vulnerability resides within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the mobile device management platform, specifically targeting the administrative web interface that controls corporate mobile device configurations and security policies. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the web application and authenticated administrators, allowing malicious actors to perform unauthorized administrative actions without proper authentication. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-352 category, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the administrative level of the device management system, where the attacker can leverage the authenticated session of legitimate administrators to execute critical operations.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the web console's failure to properly validate and verify the origin of HTTP requests originating from the administrative interface. When administrators access the Zenprise Device Manager web console, their authentication tokens are typically stored in cookies or session identifiers that persist throughout their authenticated session. The vulnerability occurs because the application does not implement proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms or origin validation checks for administrative requests. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or exploit existing vulnerabilities in web browsers to trick authenticated administrators into executing unintended actions, specifically targeting the device wiping functionality. This flaw enables attackers to manipulate the web application's behavior through carefully crafted requests that appear legitimate to the server because they include valid session tokens.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations relying on Zenprise Device Manager for mobile device management, as it provides attackers with the capability to remotely wipe corporate mobile devices without authorization. This could result in significant business disruption, data loss, and potential compliance violations, particularly in environments where mobile devices contain sensitive corporate information or personal data. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the device management platform, as administrators may unknowingly perform device wiping operations when visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it requires no special privileges or credentials from the attacker beyond the ability to deliver malicious content to a targeted administrator. This vulnerability directly impacts the CIA triad, specifically compromising both confidentiality and availability of mobile device data, while potentially affecting integrity if device wiping operations are performed maliciously.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including the deployment of anti-CSRF token mechanisms within the web console, proper origin validation checks for administrative requests, and the implementation of additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication for administrative access. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative web console access patterns can help detect suspicious activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing comprehensive security controls around administrative interfaces, as highlighted by ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious CSRF attack patterns, along with regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other administrative web applications. The remediation process should include updating to patched versions of Zenprise Device Manager, implementing proper session management controls, and establishing security awareness training for administrators to recognize potential CSRF attack vectors.