CVE-2013-2633 in Piwik
Summary
by MITRE
Piwik before 1.11 accepts input from a POST request instead of a GET request in unspecified circumstances, which might allow attackers to obtain sensitive information by leveraging the logging of parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2633 affects Piwik versions prior to 1.11 and represents a significant security flaw in how the analytics platform handles HTTP request parameters. This issue stems from the application's inconsistent handling of input validation between POST and GET request methods, creating potential attack vectors that could expose sensitive data through improper parameter logging mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes user input in POST requests rather than the expected GET requests, which can lead to information disclosure through log files that capture these parameters. This flaw directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of data within the Piwik analytics environment, particularly affecting organizations that rely on the platform for web traffic analysis and user behavior tracking. The security implications are particularly concerning given that Piwik is widely used for enterprise-level analytics, making it a potentially attractive target for threat actors seeking to exploit such configuration weaknesses.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's improper request handling logic where it fails to consistently validate and sanitize input parameters across different HTTP methods. When Piwik processes POST requests containing sensitive parameters, these values may be inadvertently logged to system logs or database records without proper sanitization. This behavior creates a scenario where attackers can craft malicious POST requests containing sensitive information such as authentication tokens, session identifiers, or other confidential data that gets stored in log files accessible to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20 as "Improper Input Validation" and specifically relates to CWE-200 as "Information Exposure" since it facilitates unauthorized access to sensitive information through log files. From an operational perspective, this flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's data handling practices and demonstrates poor security engineering principles regarding parameter validation and logging mechanisms. The inconsistency between expected and actual request processing methods creates an attack surface that can be exploited by adversaries to gather intelligence about system configurations and user data.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2633 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks when combined with other vulnerabilities or when attackers have access to the log files containing the leaked parameters. Organizations using vulnerable Piwik versions face potential risks including unauthorized access to user session data, exposure of administrative credentials, and compromise of sensitive analytics information that could be used for further targeting. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially gain insights into user behavior patterns, system configurations, and other sensitive operational data that would normally be protected. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for privilege escalation attacks if the leaked parameters contain administrative access tokens or other elevated privilege credentials. From a compliance standpoint, organizations using affected Piwik versions may face regulatory violations under data protection frameworks such as gdpr, pci dss, and hipaa, since the exposure of sensitive information through improper logging practices constitutes a breach of data handling standards. The attack surface for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 "Indicator Removal on Host: File Deletion" and T1566.001 "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" as attackers could potentially use the leaked information to craft more targeted attacks or remove evidence of their activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-2633 should focus on implementing proper input validation and ensuring consistent request handling across all HTTP methods. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Piwik version 1.11 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the inconsistent parameter handling. System administrators should also implement comprehensive log management practices, including regular log file monitoring, parameter sanitization before logging, and access controls to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive log data. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls to filter suspicious POST requests, configuring proper input validation rules, and establishing robust audit trails to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify similar inconsistencies in other applications within their environment. The fix for this vulnerability should include proper request method validation, consistent parameter handling regardless of HTTP method used, and comprehensive logging controls that prevent sensitive information from being stored in plain text within log files. Organizations should also consider implementing data loss prevention measures and regular security awareness training for personnel who handle sensitive analytics data to reduce the risk of exploitation through social engineering or insider threats.