CVE-2016-8347 in WebDatorCentral
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Kabona AB WebDatorCentral (WDC) application prior to Version 3.4.0. WDC does not limit authentication attempts that may allow a brute force attack method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8347 affects the Kabona AB WebDatorCentral application, specifically versions prior to 3.4.0, presenting a critical security weakness in the authentication mechanism that directly enables brute force attack vectors. This flaw represents a fundamental failure in access control implementation where the system lacks any form of rate limiting or account lockout mechanisms to prevent repeated authentication attempts. The absence of such protective measures creates an environment where malicious actors can systematically test numerous username and password combinations without facing any barriers, making the application particularly susceptible to automated attack tools that can rapidly iterate through common credentials or employ dictionary attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-307, which specifically addresses "Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts," and demonstrates a clear violation of security best practices regarding authentication controls. The flaw operates at the application layer where user credentials are processed, allowing attackers to exploit the lack of session management restrictions that would normally prevent rapid successive login attempts. This weakness essentially removes any meaningful protection against automated credential testing attacks, as the system processes each authentication attempt without implementing any form of throttling or account lockout functionality that would typically be expected in secure applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with a reliable pathway to gain unauthorized access to the application's resources and potentially compromise the entire system. Organizations using affected versions of WebDatorCentral face significant risk of account takeover, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure once initial access is achieved. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no sophisticated techniques or specialized tools beyond basic credential testing software, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the T1110 technique category for Brute Force, where attackers can leverage such weaknesses to systematically compromise user accounts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of authentication rate limiting controls, including account lockout mechanisms after a specified number of failed attempts, IP address monitoring for suspicious activity patterns, and the implementation of CAPTCHA systems for failed login attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication as an additional security layer that would make successful compromise significantly more difficult even if initial credential testing succeeds. The most direct solution involves upgrading to WebDatorCentral version 3.4.0 or later, which contains the necessary security improvements to prevent unauthorized authentication attempts. Additionally, network-level controls such as firewall rules that limit connection attempts from specific IP addresses and intrusion detection systems that monitor for brute force patterns should be deployed to provide layered defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of implementing proper authentication controls and demonstrates how seemingly simple security measures can provide substantial protection against common attack vectors.