CVE-2015-6493 in Mango Automation
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Infinite Automation Mango Automation 2.5.x and 2.6.x through 2.6.0 build 430 allows remote authenticated users to hijack the authentication of unspecified victims via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2024
The CVE-2015-6493 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in Infinite Automation Mango Automation versions 2.5.x and 2.6.x up to build 430. This vulnerability resides within the web application layer of the automation platform, specifically affecting the authentication and session management mechanisms that govern user access to industrial control systems. The flaw enables remote authenticated attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through crafted requests that exploit the trust relationship between the web application and its users. The vulnerability's classification as CSRF stems from the application's failure to properly validate and verify the origin of requests, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can leverage legitimate user sessions to perform unauthorized actions. The unspecified nature of the victim targets suggests this vulnerability could potentially affect any authenticated user within the system's operational scope, making it particularly dangerous in industrial environments where multiple operators may have varying levels of access rights.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate protection mechanisms within the Mango Automation web interface that fails to properly implement anti-CSRF tokens or other validation controls for state-changing operations. When authenticated users navigate to maliciously crafted web pages or click on compromised links, the application processes requests without sufficient verification of the request source or user intent. This weakness allows attackers to construct malicious requests that appear legitimate to the application's security mechanisms, effectively hijacking the authentication context of victims who are logged into the system. The vulnerability's presence in both major version series indicates a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture rather than a localized bug. The attack vector operates through the web browser's interaction with the vulnerable application, leveraging the browser's automatic handling of cookies and session identifiers that are typically used to maintain user authentication state. According to CWE guidelines, this vulnerability maps to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. The flaw's exploitation could potentially enable attackers to perform administrative actions, modify system configurations, or access sensitive operational data, particularly in industrial automation contexts where such actions could have significant operational and safety implications.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-6493 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can compromise the integrity and availability of industrial control systems managed by Mango Automation. In environments where this software operates, such as manufacturing facilities, energy grids, or water treatment plants, the ability to hijack user sessions could enable attackers to execute commands that affect production processes, alter operational parameters, or gain deeper system access. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the network or system, making it particularly concerning for critical infrastructure environments. The authentication bypass potential could allow attackers to perform actions such as creating new user accounts, modifying existing configurations, or accessing sensitive operational data that could compromise system security. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1548.002 (Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism) and T1078 (Valid Accounts), as it leverages legitimate user credentials to perform unauthorized activities. The impact is particularly severe in industrial settings where operational technology (OT) systems are interconnected, as this vulnerability could potentially cascade into broader system compromise or operational disruption. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions suggests that organizations using these automation platforms may have been exposed to risk for an extended period, potentially allowing attackers to establish persistent access or conduct reconnaissance activities.
Organizations affected by CVE-2015-6493 should prioritize immediate remediation through official vendor patches or updates to versions that address the CSRF implementation weakness. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms across all state-changing operations within the web application, ensuring that each request includes unique validation tokens that are tied to the user's current session. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous request patterns that might indicate CSRF attack attempts, particularly focusing on unusual administrative operations or configuration changes. Access controls should be reviewed and strengthened to ensure that users have the minimum necessary privileges, reducing the potential impact of successful CSRF attacks. Additionally, organizations should implement web application firewalls or security monitoring solutions that can detect and block suspicious cross-site request patterns. The vulnerability's classification as a remote authenticated threat means that organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their industrial control system environments, including reviewing user access controls, session management implementations, and overall web application security posture. Regular security updates and vulnerability management processes should be strengthened to ensure timely patch deployment and reduce the window of exposure for similar vulnerabilities in the future.