CVE-2013-2269 in ClearPass Guest
Summary
by MITRE
The Sponsorship Confirmation functionality in Aruba Networks ClearPass 5.x, 6.0.1, and 6.0.2, and Amigopod/ClearPass Guest 3.0 through 3.9.7, allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and approve a request by sending a guest request, then using "parameter manipulation" in conjunction with information from a "default holding page" to discover the link that is used for sponsor approval of the guest request, then performing a direct request to that link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2269 resides within the Sponsorship Confirmation functionality of Aruba Networks ClearPass software across multiple versions including 5.x, 6.0.1, 6.0.2, and Amigopod/ClearPass Guest 3.0 through 3.9.7. This represents a critical access control flaw that fundamentally undermines the security model of guest network access management. The issue manifests through improper validation of user inputs and predictable URL generation mechanisms that allow unauthorized parties to bypass the intended approval workflow. The vulnerability specifically targets the sponsor approval process where guest access requests must be validated by authorized personnel before network access is granted, creating a significant security gap in enterprise network access control systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on parameter manipulation techniques combined with information disclosure from default holding pages that reveal internal link structures. Attackers can initiate a guest request, then leverage the predictable nature of the approval URL generation to discover valid approval links without proper authentication. This flaw essentially allows malicious actors to perform direct requests to sponsorship approval endpoints, effectively granting them the ability to approve guest access requests without proper authorization. The vulnerability falls under CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in access control systems, and specifically aligns with CWE-352, concerning Cross-Site Request Forgery attacks where the system fails to validate the source of requests. The implementation lacks proper request validation and authorization checks that should verify the legitimacy of approval requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential network compromise and unauthorized network penetration. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can approve guest access requests for any user, potentially allowing them to establish persistent network access or use the guest network as a foothold for further attacks. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where guest access is intended to be tightly controlled and monitored. The vulnerability enables attackers to circumvent network access controls and potentially gain access to internal network resources that would otherwise be restricted to authorized users only. Organizations relying on ClearPass for guest network management face the risk of unauthorized network access, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and authorization checks within the sponsorship confirmation functionality. Organizations should ensure that all approval requests undergo proper authentication and authorization verification before processing, with no predictable URL structures that could be exploited through parameter manipulation. The system should implement proper session management and request origin validation to prevent unauthorized access to approval endpoints. Network administrators should also consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers could use this vulnerability to establish persistent access and potentially escalate privileges. The remediation process should include applying vendor patches, implementing proper access controls, and conducting security audits to verify that all approval workflows are properly secured against parameter manipulation attacks.