CVE-2012-3472 in Ushahidi
Summary
by MITRE
The email API in application/libraries/api/MY_Email_Api_Object.php in the Ushahidi Platform before 2.5 does not require authentication, which allows remote attackers to list, delete, or organize messages via a GET request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3472 represents a critical authentication flaw within the Ushahidi Platform email API implementation. This weakness exists in the file application/libraries/api/MY_Email_Api_Object.php and affects versions prior to 2.5 of the platform. The core issue lies in the absence of proper authentication mechanisms within the email API functionality, creating a significant security gap that exposes sensitive messaging capabilities to unauthorized remote access.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of authentication checks that should normally validate user credentials before granting access to email management functions. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by simply issuing GET requests to the affected API endpoints without requiring any valid authentication tokens or user credentials. This authentication bypass allows malicious actors to perform unauthorized operations including listing email messages, deleting messages, and organizing messages within the platform's email system. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, specifically the absence of authentication requirements for sensitive functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the platform's email infrastructure. An attacker could potentially enumerate all email messages stored within the system, delete important communications, or reorganize messages to disrupt normal operations or hide malicious activities. This access could compromise sensitive information that users might have communicated through the platform, particularly in contexts where Ushahidi is used for crisis reporting, humanitarian response, or community communication systems. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or network, making it particularly dangerous in production environments.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential data manipulation and service disruption. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a privilege escalation and credential access vector where attackers can leverage the lack of authentication to move laterally within the system or extract sensitive data. Organizations using the affected Ushahidi Platform versions face significant risk of data breaches, information leakage, and potential compromise of their communication infrastructure. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to conduct reconnaissance activities by enumerating message lists, which could reveal patterns of communication or identify sensitive information within the platform's email system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to Ushahidi Platform version 2.5 or later where authentication requirements have been properly implemented. Organizations should also implement network-level access controls to restrict access to the affected API endpoints, deploy intrusion detection systems to monitor for unauthorized API access attempts, and conduct thorough security audits of all API implementations within the platform. Additionally, implementing proper authentication mechanisms including API key validation, session management, and role-based access controls would provide defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should also establish monitoring procedures to detect and respond to unauthorized access attempts to email API functions, ensuring that any suspicious activity is promptly investigated and addressed.