CVE-2015-10033 in MerlinsBoard
Summary
by MITRE • 01/10/2023
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in jvvlee MerlinsBoard. This affects an unknown part of the component Grade Handler. The manipulation leads to improper authorization. The name of the patch is 134f5481e2914b7f096cd92a22b1e6bcb8e6dfe5. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. The identifier VDB-217713 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-10033 represents a critical authorization flaw within the jvvlee MerlinsBoard software platform, specifically impacting the Grade Handler component. This issue falls under the category of improper authorization vulnerabilities, which are classified as CWE-285 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The vulnerability manifests in the authentication and access control mechanisms of the MerlinsBoard system, where unauthorized users can potentially bypass legitimate access controls to manipulate grade-related data and system configurations.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation of user permissions within the Grade Handler module, allowing malicious actors to perform unauthorized operations that should be restricted to privileged users. This weakness creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks where attackers can manipulate grade records, potentially altering student performance data or system configurations without proper authorization. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal prerequisites, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the MerlinsBoard system handles sensitive academic data and user credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the entire MerlinsBoard platform. Attackers could potentially access restricted grade information, modify academic records, or even gain administrative privileges within the system. This represents a significant security risk for educational institutions relying on the platform, as it undermines the trustworthiness of academic data and could lead to serious consequences including academic fraud, data breaches, and regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability's classification as problematic indicates the severity of potential impact on system security and data integrity.
Security practitioners should immediately implement the recommended patch identified by the commit hash 134f5481e2914b7f096cd92a22b1e6bcb8e6dfe5 to remediate this authorization flaw. The patch addresses the root cause by strengthening the authentication checks within the Grade Handler component and ensuring proper access control enforcement. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their MerlinsBoard installations to identify any potential exploitation attempts and verify the effectiveness of the applied patch. Additionally, implementing network monitoring solutions and access logging can help detect anomalous activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security updates and proper authorization controls in maintaining secure educational information systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1484 for Domain Policy Modification.