CVE-2013-0187 in Foreman
Summary
by MITRE
Foreman before 1.1 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges via a (1) XMLHttpRequest or (2) AJAX request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0187 affects Foreman versions prior to 1.1, representing a critical authorization flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges through improper input validation mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes XMLHttpRequest or AJAX requests without adequate authorization checks, allowing attackers who have already established authentication credentials to exploit the system's trust model and execute unauthorized administrative actions.
The technical flaw resides in the application's insufficient validation of request origins and user permissions during AJAX and XMLHttpRequest processing. When legitimate users submit requests through these mechanisms, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has adequate privileges for the requested operations. This represents a classic authorization bypass vulnerability that falls under CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization within software applications. The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate request parameters or headers to perform actions typically restricted to administrators or privileged users, effectively undermining the application's access control mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations using Foreman for system management and automation. Attackers who can authenticate to the system can leverage this flaw to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it can enable attackers to modify system configurations, access confidential data, and potentially disrupt critical infrastructure operations. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the managed environment, as unauthorized users can manipulate system resources through legitimate API endpoints that should only be accessible to authorized personnel.
The exploitation of CVE-2013-0187 aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through legitimate system access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Foreman version 1.1 or later, which contains the necessary authorization fixes. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces, enforcing strict input validation on all AJAX endpoints, and monitoring for unusual patterns of administrative activity that might indicate privilege escalation attempts. Security controls should also include regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar authorization flaws in other system components, as this vulnerability type commonly appears in web applications that handle multiple user roles and administrative functions through AJAX interfaces.
The vulnerability demonstrates how modern web applications can inadvertently create security holes through the complexity of AJAX and XMLHttpRequest implementations, where traditional authentication mechanisms fail to account for the unique request patterns and potential for parameter manipulation. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive security testing frameworks that specifically target authorization and access control mechanisms, particularly in applications that rely heavily on dynamic web interfaces and API endpoints for administrative functions. Regular security updates and patch management processes become critical in preventing exploitation of such vulnerabilities that can remain undetected for extended periods due to their subtle nature and the legitimate nature of the underlying request mechanisms.