CVE-2017-1000141 in Mahara
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Mahara before 18.10.0. It mishandled user requests that could discontinue a user's ability to maintain their own account (changing username, changing primary email address, deleting account). The correct behavior was to either prompt them for their password and/or send a warning to their primary email address.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000141 represents a critical authentication and authorization flaw within the Mahara learning management system prior to version 18.10.0. This issue stems from inadequate validation and handling of user account modification requests, specifically affecting operations that allow users to change their usernames, primary email addresses, or delete their accounts entirely. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in the application's security model where user account integrity and authorization controls are not properly enforced during sensitive account operations.
This vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient authorization checks and weak session management as defined by CWE-285 and CWE-306. The system fails to implement proper multi-factor authentication or password verification mechanisms when users attempt to perform account modifications that could significantly alter their access credentials or completely remove their account. The absence of mandatory password prompts or email verification processes creates a pathway for unauthorized account manipulation and potential account takeovers. The flaw particularly impacts the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, as users can potentially modify critical account information without adequate verification of their identity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account compromise to encompass potential data integrity breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive educational information. Attackers could exploit this flaw to change usernames and email addresses of other users, potentially gaining unauthorized access to their accounts or disrupting their educational activities. The deletion of accounts represents an even more severe consequence, as it could result in permanent loss of educational data and user access. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1531 which covers account access removal, demonstrating how the flaw could be leveraged for account manipulation and data loss.
Organizations utilizing Mahara systems prior to version 18.10.0 face significant security risks due to this vulnerability, particularly in educational environments where user data privacy and account integrity are paramount. The lack of proper authentication for account modifications creates opportunities for insider threats or external attackers to exploit the system. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in environments where multiple users share the same system and where account management is not properly audited or monitored. Implementing proper security controls requires immediate patching of the affected version, but organizations should also consider enhancing their monitoring of account modification activities and implementing additional verification mechanisms for sensitive operations.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate upgrade to Mahara version 18.10.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to enforce proper authentication for account modifications. Additionally, organizations should implement enhanced monitoring of account modification activities, ensure proper email verification processes are in place, and consider implementing additional authentication factors for sensitive operations. The fix addresses the core issue by requiring users to provide password confirmation or receive email verification before performing account modifications, thereby aligning with security best practices and industry standards for protecting user accounts and maintaining data integrity.