CVE-2015-6538 in Cardio Server
Summary
by MITRE
The login page in Epiphany Cardio Server 3.3, 4.0, and 4.1 mishandles authentication requests, which allows remote attackers to conduct LDAP injection attacks, and consequently bypass intended access restrictions, via a crafted URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6538 affects Epiphany Cardio Server versions 3.3, 4.0, and 4.1, specifically targeting the login page authentication mechanism. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to exploit the system's handling of authentication requests through LDAP injection techniques. The vulnerability exists within the server's authentication flow where user input is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed in LDAP queries, creating an avenue for malicious exploitation that bypasses intended access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization within the login page's backend processing. When users submit authentication credentials through the login interface, the system constructs LDAP search queries based on user-provided data without adequate filtering or escaping of special LDAP metacharacters. This allows attackers to inject malicious LDAP syntax into the authentication request, potentially manipulating the LDAP query structure to bypass authentication checks entirely. The vulnerability specifically impacts the URL parameter handling where authentication data is processed, making it accessible to remote attackers who can craft malicious URLs to exploit the flaw.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it allows unauthorized access to the Epiphany Cardio Server system without proper authentication credentials. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain access to sensitive medical data, system administrative functions, and potentially escalate privileges within the network environment. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access or network proximity to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in healthcare environments where patient data security is paramount. This weakness could lead to data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and potential disruption of critical healthcare services.
Organizations using affected Epiphany Cardio Server versions should implement immediate mitigations including applying available vendor patches, implementing input validation controls, and configuring proper LDAP query escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-91 and CWE-77 respectively, representing weaknesses in XML and LDAP injection attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1110.001 (Brute Force: Password Guessing) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can potentially bypass authentication entirely rather than relying on credential guessing. Network segmentation, monitoring of authentication attempts, and implementation of web application firewalls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts while organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment to remediate this critical vulnerability.