CVE-2015-2993 in Help Desk
Summary
by MITRE
SysAid Help Desk before 15.2 does not properly restrict access to certain functionality, which allows remote attackers to (1) create administrator accounts via a crafted request to /createnewaccount or (2) write to arbitrary files via the fileName parameter to /userentry.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2993 affects SysAid Help Desk versions prior to 15.2 and represents a critical access control flaw that enables remote attackers to escalate privileges and potentially compromise the entire system. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authorization checks within the application's web interface, specifically targeting the account creation and file manipulation functionalities. The flaw exists in the application's handling of user requests and demonstrates a failure in implementing proper security controls for administrative operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through two primary attack vectors that exploit different aspects of the application's security model. The first vector allows attackers to create administrator accounts through a crafted HTTP request directed to the /createnewaccount endpoint, bypassing normal account creation restrictions and user authentication mechanisms. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where an unauthenticated attacker can gain administrative access to the system. The second vector enables arbitrary file writing through manipulation of the fileName parameter in requests to the /userentry endpoint, allowing attackers to write files to arbitrary locations on the server filesystem. Both vectors demonstrate insufficient input sanitization and lack of proper access controls that should normally prevent unauthorized modifications to system configuration and user accounts.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2993 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive organizational data. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can establish persistent administrative access, modify system configurations, and potentially exfiltrate confidential information from the help desk system. The vulnerability affects organizations using SysAid Help Desk in environments where network exposure is high, as the attack vectors are accessible over the network without requiring prior authentication. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where help desk systems often contain sensitive user information, system configurations, and access credentials.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-285 (Improper Authorization) and CWE-73 (External Control of File Name or Path) in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, highlighting the dual nature of the flaw that combines authorization bypass with insecure file handling practices. The attack patterns align with ATT&CK techniques including T1078 (Valid Accounts) for privilege escalation through account creation and T1486 (Data Encrypted for Ransom) if attackers use the file writing capability to deploy malicious payloads. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to version 15.2 or later, implementing network segmentation to limit access to vulnerable endpoints, and monitoring for suspicious account creation or file manipulation activities. Additionally, security teams should review and strengthen input validation controls, implement proper access controls for administrative functions, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and systems.