CVE-2016-4813 in NetCommons
Summary
by MITRE
NetCommons 2.4.2.1 and earlier allows remote authenticated secretariat (aka CLERK) users to gain privileges by creating a SYSTEM_ADMIN account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4813 affects NetCommons version 2.4.2.1 and earlier, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw within the web application framework. This issue specifically targets the secretariat role, also known as CLERK, which is an authenticated user level within the system's access control hierarchy. The vulnerability stems from inadequate authorization controls that permit users with secretariat privileges to manipulate the system's user management functions in ways that should be restricted to higher privileged accounts. This flaw exists within the application's permission model where the system fails to properly validate or restrict the creation of accounts with elevated system administrator privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an authenticated secretariat user to exploit a weakness in the account creation process by crafting a specific request that results in the automatic assignment of SYSTEM_ADMIN privileges to a newly created account. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's access control mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user input validation and privilege verification are insufficient to prevent unauthorized privilege elevation. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control and CWE-798 which covers the use of hardcoded credentials or privilege escalation mechanisms. The flaw essentially creates an attack vector that bypasses the normal security boundaries that should prevent users from creating accounts with system-level administrative capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within the affected environment. An attacker with secretariat privileges can effectively compromise the entire system by creating a SYSTEM_ADMIN account that grants them complete control over the application's functionality, data, and configuration settings. This privilege escalation capability allows for unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion, system configuration changes, and potential lateral movement within the network if the application is integrated with other systems. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the NetCommons platform, as the compromised system could be used to exfiltrate sensitive information, disrupt services, or establish persistent access points. The attack requires only authentication to the system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by insiders or compromised legitimate users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4813 should focus on immediate patching of the affected NetCommons versions to address the authorization flaw in account creation processes. Organizations should implement the latest security updates provided by the NetCommons development team to resolve the privilege escalation vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should enforce strict access control policies and regularly audit user accounts to identify any unauthorized SYSTEM_ADMIN accounts that may have been created. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that secretariat users have minimal required permissions and that account creation processes are properly validated and logged. Network segmentation and monitoring of account creation activities can help detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and credential access methods, highlighting the need for proper access control implementation and monitoring of user account management activities. Security teams should also consider implementing automated systems to detect and prevent unauthorized privilege elevation attempts within the application.