CVE-2015-4688 in Banner Student
Summary
by MITRE
Ellucian (formerly SunGard) Banner Student 8.5.1.2 through 8.7 allow remote attackers to enumerate user accounts via a series of requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-4688 affects Ellucian Banner Student versions 8.5.1.2 through 8.7, representing a significant security flaw that enables remote attackers to perform user account enumeration attacks. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure weaknesses that can provide adversaries with valuable intelligence for subsequent attack phases. The flaw specifically allows unauthorized remote access to system user accounts through a series of carefully crafted requests that exploit the application's response behavior to different account states.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication requests within the Banner Student application. When attackers submit requests for user accounts, the system responds differently based on whether the account exists or not, creating distinguishable response patterns that can be analyzed to determine which accounts are valid. This behavior violates fundamental security principles by exposing account information through indirect means rather than implementing consistent error responses. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in the application's authentication mechanism, specifically related to improper error handling and response differentiation that should not reveal sensitive information about system users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with a foundation for more sophisticated attacks including brute force attempts, credential stuffing, and social engineering operations. Once attackers have compiled a list of valid user accounts, they can focus their efforts on exploiting specific accounts rather than conducting broad, inefficient attacks. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of the system's user base, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive student information and academic records. The ability to enumerate accounts through remote means removes the need for physical access or prior reconnaissance, making the attack surface significantly larger and more accessible to threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-4688 should focus on implementing consistent error handling throughout the authentication process, ensuring that all account validation requests return identical responses regardless of whether the account exists or not. Organizations should apply the vendor-provided patches released for this vulnerability and implement proper input validation and response normalization techniques. Security controls should include monitoring for unusual patterns of authentication requests and implementing rate limiting to prevent automated enumeration attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's credential access tactics. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in other applications and systems within the organization's infrastructure.