CVE-2016-15014 in theme-cesnet
Summary
by MITRE • 01/09/2023
A vulnerability has been found in CESNET theme-cesnet up to 1.x and classified as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file cesnet/core/lostpassword/templates/resetpassword.php. The manipulation leads to insufficiently protected credentials. Attacking locally is a requirement. Upgrading to version 2.0.0 is able to address this issue. The name of the patch is 2b857f2233ce5083b4d5bc9bfc4152f933c3e4a6. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The identifier VDB-217633 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-15014 affects the CESNET theme-cesnet web application framework version 1.x, specifically targeting the resetpassword.php template file within the cesnet/core/lostpassword/modules. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the protection of user credentials during the password reset process, creating a significant risk for systems utilizing this vulnerable component. The vulnerability is classified as a credential exposure issue that requires local access to exploit, making it a local privilege escalation or lateral movement vector within compromised environments.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient protection mechanisms within the password reset functionality, where credentials are not adequately secured during transmission or storage in the resetpassword.php template. This weakness allows attackers with local system access to potentially intercept or extract sensitive authentication data, violating fundamental security principles for credential management. The vulnerability manifests through improper handling of password reset tokens or session data, creating opportunities for credential theft and unauthorized access to user accounts. This flaw directly relates to CWE-522, which addresses insufficiently protected credentials, and represents a failure in implementing proper authentication token security measures.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations deploying the affected CESNET framework, as local attackers can exploit the weakness to compromise user accounts and potentially escalate privileges within the system. The requirement for local access limits the attack surface compared to remote exploits, but local privilege escalation remains a serious concern for system administrators and security teams. The vulnerability impacts the integrity and confidentiality of user authentication data, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems and resources that rely on the affected framework. Attackers could leverage this weakness to establish persistent access or move laterally within compromised networks.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to version 2.0.0 of the CESNET theme-cesnet framework, which incorporates the patch identified by the commit hash 2b857f2233ce5083b4d5bc9bfc4152f933c3e4a6. This upgrade addresses the underlying credential protection mechanisms in the resetpassword.php template and implements proper security controls for password reset functionality. Organizations should prioritize this upgrade as part of their vulnerability management processes, particularly in environments where local access controls may be compromised or where the framework is deployed across multiple systems. The patch likely implements stronger token generation, proper session management, and enhanced credential handling mechanisms that align with industry best practices for authentication security and align with ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation.