CVE-2014-1931 in Cyber Recruiter
Summary
by MITRE
The user login page in Visibility Software Cyber Recruiter before 8.1.00 generates different responses for invalid password-retrieval attempts depending on which data elements are incorrect, which might allow remote attackers to obtain account-related information via a series of requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1931 resides within the user login page of Visibility Software Cyber Recruiter version 8.1.00 and earlier, representing a classic information disclosure flaw that can be exploited by remote attackers to gather account-related data through careful analysis of system responses. This issue stems from the application's inconsistent handling of authentication attempts where the system provides different response messages depending on whether the username, password, or both elements are incorrect during password retrieval processes. The vulnerability manifests as a side-channel information leak that operates through response differentiation rather than direct data exposure.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the application's authentication logic failing to maintain consistent response behavior across different invalid input scenarios. When an attacker submits incorrect credentials or password retrieval data, the system returns distinct error messages or response patterns that can be analyzed to determine which specific data element is incorrect. This differential response behavior creates a reconnaissance opportunity for attackers to systematically determine valid usernames through repeated attempts and response analysis, effectively bypassing normal account lockout mechanisms and account enumeration protections.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform account enumeration attacks against the Cyber Recruiter system, potentially allowing them to identify valid user accounts within the system. The information gathered through this technique can then be leveraged for subsequent attacks including brute force password guessing, targeted social engineering campaigns, or account takeover attempts. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations using the software for recruitment management where user credentials may have access to sensitive candidate data, employee information, or proprietary recruitment processes.
Security researchers categorize this vulnerability under CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212, "Exploitation for Credential Access," as it enables attackers to obtain credential-related information through indirect means. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-384, "Session Management Issues," and CWE-611, "Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference," as it represents a failure in proper authentication handling and response normalization that could potentially be combined with other weaknesses to create more sophisticated attack vectors. Organizations should implement proper response normalization techniques, consistent error messaging, and account lockout mechanisms to address this vulnerability effectively.
The remediation approach requires updating the Visibility Software Cyber Recruiter to version 8.1.00 or later, where the inconsistent response behavior has been corrected. Additionally, security teams should implement comprehensive authentication logging, monitor for unusual login patterns, and ensure that all authentication responses maintain consistent messaging regardless of the specific input validation failure. Network security controls including intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect and alert on repeated authentication attempts that may indicate enumeration activities. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their authentication systems to identify similar response differentiation issues that could provide attackers with indirect information disclosure opportunities.