CVE-2015-4119 in ISPConfig
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in ISPConfig before 3.0.5.4p7 allow remote attackers to hijack the authentication of (1) administrators for requests that create an administrator account via a request to admin/users_edit.php or (2) arbitrary users for requests that conduct SQL injection attacks via the server parameter to monitor/show_sys_state.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2025
The CVE-2015-4119 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery issue affecting ISPConfig versions prior to 3.0.5.4p7. This vulnerability stems from insufficient CSRF protection mechanisms within the web application's administrative interfaces, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system's authentication mechanisms. The flaw specifically targets the administrative user management functions and system monitoring components, enabling unauthorized actions through forged requests that appear legitimate to the server.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the absence of proper CSRF tokens in critical administrative endpoints. When administrators access the admin/users_edit.php page to create new administrator accounts, or when users interact with the monitor/show_sys_state.php endpoint using the server parameter for SQL injection attacks, the system fails to validate the authenticity of these requests. This omission allows attackers to craft malicious requests that leverage the authenticated session of legitimate users, effectively hijacking their privileges without requiring valid credentials. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through carefully constructed HTTP requests that manipulate the target system's behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Attackers can escalate their privileges by creating new administrator accounts, thereby gaining complete control over the ISPConfig installation. Additionally, the SQL injection capability through the server parameter in the monitoring component allows for data manipulation, information disclosure, and potential system compromise. This vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system, as it enables unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions and system information. The attack can be executed remotely without requiring any local access or prior authentication.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery flaws in web applications. It also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities for initial access. Organizations running affected ISPConfig versions face significant risk of unauthorized administrative access, data breaches, and potential system compromise. The impact extends beyond immediate privilege escalation to include potential lateral movement within network environments where ISPConfig serves as a management interface for hosting services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to ISPConfig version 3.0.5.4p7 or later, which implements proper CSRF token validation mechanisms. Administrators should also implement additional security controls such as network segmentation, web application firewalls, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. Regular security assessments of web applications and adherence to secure coding practices are essential for preventing similar vulnerabilities. The fix addresses the core issue by implementing robust CSRF protection measures that validate request authenticity through unique tokens generated for each user session, ensuring that malicious requests cannot impersonate legitimate administrative actions.