CVE-2016-9489 in Applications Manager
Summary
by MITRE
In ManageEngine Applications Manager 12 and 13, an authenticated user is able to alter all of their own properties, including own group, i.e. changing their group to one with higher privileges like "ADMIN". A user is also able to change properties of another user, e.g. change another user's password.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9489 represents a critical privilege escalation and unauthorized access flaw within ManageEngine Applications Manager versions 12 and 13. This issue stems from inadequate access controls and insufficient input validation mechanisms that allow authenticated users to manipulate their own user profiles and those of other users within the system. The vulnerability specifically targets the user management functionality of the application, creating a pathway for malicious actors to elevate their privileges or compromise other user accounts.
The technical flaw manifests through improper authorization checks within the user property modification functions. When an authenticated user accesses the user management interface, the application fails to properly validate whether the requesting user has sufficient privileges to modify specific user attributes. This weakness enables users to manipulate their own group membership, allowing them to transition from standard user roles to administrative positions by simply changing their group assignment to "ADMIN". Additionally, the vulnerability extends to password modification capabilities, where users can alter the credentials of other accounts without proper authorization, effectively creating a backdoor for account takeover scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, encompassing both privilege escalation and data integrity compromises. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can gain administrative access to the entire ManageEngine Applications Manager environment, enabling them to view, modify, or delete any system configuration, user accounts, or monitored applications. The ability to change passwords for other users creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can maintain long-term access to the system by compromising multiple user accounts. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and separation of duties, undermining the integrity of the authentication and authorization framework.
Organizations affected by CVE-2016-9489 face significant risks including unauthorized system access, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Function) categories, reflecting the core security failures in access control implementation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and credential access methods, specifically targeting T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1548.001 (Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism). The security implications extend beyond immediate exploitation to include potential persistence mechanisms and the ability to conduct reconnaissance activities within the compromised environment.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected ManageEngine Applications Manager versions to address the core access control flaws. Organizations must implement robust monitoring of user account modifications and privilege changes to detect unauthorized activities. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar access control vulnerabilities in other enterprise applications. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and authorization checks in web applications, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent such flaws from reaching production environments.