CVE-2015-2560 in Manage Engine Desktop Central
Summary
by MITRE
Manage Engine Desktop Central 9 before build 90135 allows remote attackers to change passwords of users with the Administrator role via an addOrModifyUser operation to servlets/DCOperationsServlet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2560 affects Manage Engine Desktop Central version 9 prior to build 90135, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that enables remote attackers to escalate privileges by manipulating user account credentials. This vulnerability specifically targets the DCOperationsServlet component within the desktop management platform, which serves as a central interface for administrative operations including user account management. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the addOrModifyUser operation, allowing unauthorized remote exploitation that can result in complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the improper validation of user permissions during administrative servlet operations. When attackers send crafted requests to the DCOperationsServlet endpoint, they can exploit the lack of proper authentication checks to modify user accounts with administrator privileges. This weakness aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and specifically demonstrates how insufficient access controls can lead to privilege escalation. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, leveraging the web application's trust in authenticated sessions without adequate verification of the requesting user's actual privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2560 extends far beyond simple credential modification, as it provides attackers with the ability to assume administrative control over the entire Desktop Central management platform. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can create new administrator accounts, modify existing user permissions, and potentially gain access to all managed endpoints within the organization's network. This represents a significant compromise of the principle of least privilege, as the vulnerability allows unauthenticated users to perform operations that should only be available to legitimate administrators. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no prior authentication credentials, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation campaigns.
Organizations utilizing Manage Engine Desktop Central should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of build 90135 or later, which addresses the authentication bypass vulnerability through proper access control validation. Additionally, network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to the DCOperationsServlet endpoint, and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual administrative operations. Security controls should include regular vulnerability assessments, application firewalls, and strict access controls on the management interface. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and credential access, specifically demonstrating how weak access controls can be leveraged to establish persistent administrative access within enterprise environments. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and authentication mechanisms as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, where insufficient logging and monitoring of access control failures can lead to prolonged undetected compromise of critical systems.