CVE-2013-6806 in Exceed OnDemand
Summary
by MITRE
OpenText Exceed OnDemand (EoD) 8 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to disable bidirectional authentication and obtain sensitive information via a crafted string in a response, which triggers a downgrade to simple authentication that sends credentials in plaintext.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2015
OpenText Exceed OnDemand version 8 contains a critical security vulnerability that enables man-in-the-middle attackers to compromise authentication mechanisms and extract sensitive information through crafted response manipulation. This vulnerability specifically targets the bidirectional authentication process, allowing attackers to force a downgrade to simple authentication methods that transmit credentials in plaintext. The flaw exists within the protocol handling logic where the system fails to properly validate response strings, creating an opportunity for attackers to manipulate authentication flows.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication protocol handling within the EoD 8 software. When a crafted string is received in a response, the system incorrectly processes this input and triggers an automatic downgrade to a less secure authentication mechanism. This downgrade bypasses normal security controls that would typically enforce bidirectional authentication, which normally requires both client and server to verify each other's identities through mutual authentication protocols. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to coerce the system into using plaintext credential transmission, making it trivial for attackers to capture and exploit user credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it directly compromises the confidentiality and integrity of authentication processes within the Exceed OnDemand environment. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can obtain sensitive information including user credentials, session tokens, and potentially access to protected resources within the system. The plaintext transmission of credentials creates an immediate risk for credential theft, which could lead to unauthorized access to corporate data, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within networks. This vulnerability undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the authentication system and creates persistent access points for malicious actors.
Organizations utilizing OpenText Exceed OnDemand version 8 should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the software, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and deploying additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous authentication patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues including authentication protocol weaknesses and improper authentication mechanisms. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through phishing and social engineering, as well as T1071, which covers application layer protocol usage. Security teams should also consider implementing network traffic analysis to detect the specific crafted strings that trigger this authentication downgrade, and establish monitoring for unusual authentication flow patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts.