CVE-2013-5356 in Sharetronix
Summary
by MITRE
Sharetronix 3.1.1.3, 3.1.1, and earlier does not properly restrict access to unspecified AJAX functionality, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5356 affects Sharetronix versions 3.1.1.3, 3.1.1, and earlier, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the application's authentication mechanisms. This issue stems from improper restrictions on unspecified AJAX functionality within the web application framework, creating a pathway for remote attackers to bypass established security controls without requiring legitimate credentials or authorization. The vulnerability exists at the application logic level where access controls are inadequately enforced for dynamic content delivery mechanisms that rely on asynchronous javascript and xml communications.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's failure to properly validate and authenticate requests made to AJAX endpoints that handle sensitive operations. This weakness allows attackers to exploit unspecified vectors to gain unauthorized access to functionality that should remain restricted to authenticated users or specific authorized roles. The vulnerability's classification as an access control issue aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and represents a variant of the broader CWE-668 weakness concerning exposure of resources to wrong host. The AJAX functionality in question likely handles user management, data modification, or administrative operations that require proper authentication before execution.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using affected Sharetronix versions as it enables remote attackers to perform unauthorized actions without detection. Attackers could potentially manipulate user accounts, access restricted data, modify system configurations, or execute administrative functions depending on the scope of the exposed AJAX endpoints. The remote nature of the attack vector means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the target system or network. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected application and underlying data, potentially leading to full system compromise or data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-5356 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Sharetronix installations to the latest available versions that address the authentication bypass flaw. Organizations should implement network-level controls including firewall rules to restrict access to AJAX endpoints and employ web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests targeting these functions. Additional defensive measures include implementing robust input validation for all AJAX requests, enforcing proper session management, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar access control vulnerabilities. The remediation process should align with ATT&CK technique T1078 which addresses valid accounts and privilege escalation, ensuring that access controls are properly enforced across all application components. System administrators should also consider implementing logging and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to identify potential exploitation of this vulnerability.