CVE-2015-5413 in Version Control Repository Manager
Summary
by MITRE
HP Version Control Repository Manager (VCRM) before 7.5.0 allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges and obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5413 affects HP Version Control Repository Manager (VCRM) versions prior to 7.5.0, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote authenticated attackers to escalate privileges and access sensitive information. This vulnerability exists within HP's version control management system, which is commonly deployed in enterprise environments for software development lifecycle management and configuration control. The affected system operates as a centralized repository manager that handles version control operations for development teams, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise development environments and access proprietary code repositories.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient privilege validation and authorization mechanisms within the VCRM application. While the vulnerability description does not specify the exact attack vector, it indicates that authenticated users can exploit weaknesses in the access control model to elevate their privileges beyond their intended scope. This typically manifests through improper input validation, insecure session management, or flawed permission checking routines that allow users to bypass normal access controls. The vulnerability likely resides in the application's user authentication and authorization subsystem, where insufficient checks permit privilege escalation through manipulation of access tokens, session identifiers, or direct API calls that should require elevated permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with access to sensitive information stored within the version control repository. This includes source code repositories, configuration files, development artifacts, and potentially confidential business data that has been stored in the VCRM system. Attackers could leverage this access to extract intellectual property, identify system vulnerabilities, or use the stolen information for further attacks against the organization. The compromise of a version control repository can have cascading effects on software development processes, potentially leading to supply chain attacks or the introduction of malicious code into production systems. Organizations using VCRM for managing critical software projects face significant risk of data breaches and intellectual property theft.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-5413 should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to version 7.5.0 or later, which includes the necessary security fixes addressing the privilege escalation and information disclosure vulnerabilities. Network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to VCRM systems to authorized personnel only, with strict firewall rules and access controls enforced at multiple layers of the network infrastructure. Regular security audits and penetration testing of version control systems should be conducted to identify additional vulnerabilities in the access control mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of VCRM access logs to detect anomalous privilege escalation attempts or unauthorized data access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and may also relate to CWE-200 (Information Exposure) categories, representing a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege that violates security best practices established in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 frameworks. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may leverage compromised legitimate credentials to exploit the privilege escalation flaw, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing zero trust security models.