CVE-2015-4683 in RealPresence Resource Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Polycom RealPresence Resource Manager (aka RPRM) before 8.4 allows attackers to obtain sensitive information and potentially gain privileges by leveraging use of session identifiers as parameters with HTTP GET requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4683 affects Polycom RealPresence Resource Manager version 8.4 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in the management of session identifiers within the web interface. This issue stems from the improper handling of session tokens that are passed as parameters in HTTP GET requests rather than being securely managed through proper session management mechanisms. The vulnerability exposes sensitive information and creates potential privilege escalation paths that attackers can exploit to compromise the system.
The technical flaw manifests when session identifiers are transmitted via HTTP GET parameters instead of being properly secured within HTTP headers or cookies. This design flaw allows attackers to capture session tokens from URL parameters in web server logs, browser history, or network traffic monitoring tools. The implementation violates fundamental web security principles and creates an attack surface where session hijacking becomes trivial. According to CWE-200, this vulnerability directly relates to information exposure through improper session management, while also aligning with CWE-384 which addresses session management weaknesses that can lead to privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable full system compromise. Attackers can leverage captured session identifiers to impersonate legitimate users and gain unauthorized access to the Resource Manager interface. This access could allow them to view sensitive configuration data, modify system settings, and potentially escalate privileges to administrative levels. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector since session tokens remain valid for extended periods, and the exposure occurs at the network level where attackers can easily intercept and reuse these identifiers.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper session management protocols that prevent session identifiers from being passed in URL parameters. Organizations should immediately upgrade to Polycom RealPresence Resource Manager version 8.4 or later, which addresses this vulnerability through secure session handling mechanisms. Network administrators should also implement web application firewalls to monitor and block requests containing session identifiers in GET parameters, while enforcing secure cookie attributes such as HttpOnly and Secure flags. The remediation process should include comprehensive network traffic monitoring to detect and prevent session token exposure, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential access through network sniffing and T1078 for valid accounts usage. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments to identify similar session management flaws in other applications and implement mandatory session token rotation policies to minimize the window of opportunity for attackers to exploit captured identifiers.