CVE-2016-4890 in ServiceDesk Plus
Summary
by MITRE
ZOHO ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus before 9.2 uses an insecure method for generationg cookies, which makes it easier for attackers to obtain sensitive password information by leveraging access to a cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4890 affects ZOHO ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus versions prior to 9.2, presenting a significant security weakness in the application's cookie generation methodology. This flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's session management implementation, creating opportunities for attackers to compromise user credentials and sensitive information. The insecure cookie generation process fundamentally undermines the security model designed to protect authenticated sessions within the service desk platform.
The technical flaw stems from the application's use of predictable or weak cryptographic methods when generating session cookies. This insecure implementation allows attackers who can observe or intercept cookies to potentially reconstruct session tokens and impersonate legitimate users. The vulnerability specifically targets the cookie generation algorithm which should have employed strong randomization and cryptographic techniques to ensure session uniqueness and unpredictability. According to CWE classification, this corresponds to CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues including weak random number generation and insufficient entropy in security tokens.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to the entire ServiceDesk Plus environment. Once an attacker successfully compromises a session through cookie manipulation, they can access sensitive customer data, service requests, configuration settings, and potentially escalate privileges within the system. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering and session hijacking methods. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that ServiceDesk Plus typically handles critical business information and user credentials.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of ServiceDesk Plus face substantial risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it attractive to both malicious actors and automated attack tools. The insecure cookie generation creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the underlying implementation is corrected through proper cryptographic practices. System administrators should immediately implement the vendor-provided patch for ServiceDesk Plus version 9.2 or later, which addresses the weak cookie generation mechanism by implementing proper cryptographic randomization and session token generation techniques.
Mitigation strategies beyond patching should include monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns and implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of potential cookie-based attacks. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any other applications using similar insecure cookie generation methods. The incident highlights the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in session management and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in security infrastructure can lead to significant operational risks. Organizations should review their entire application portfolio for similar vulnerabilities in cookie handling and cryptographic implementations to prevent similar exposure to attack vectors.