CVE-2017-1000147 in Mahara
Summary
by MITRE
Mahara 1.9 before 1.9.8 and 1.10 before 1.10.6 and 15.04 before 15.04.3 are vulnerable to perform a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attack on the uploader contained in Mahara's filebrowser widget. This could allow an attacker to trick a Mahara user into unknowingly uploading malicious files into their Mahara account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-1000147 represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness in the Mahara learning management system that affects multiple version ranges including 1.9.x before 1.9.8, 1.10.x before 1.10.6, and 15.04.x before 1.15.04.3. This flaw exists within the filebrowser widget component that handles file uploads, specifically targeting the uploader functionality that allows users to add files to their Mahara accounts. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the origin and authenticity of file upload requests, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can exploit the trust relationship between the web application and its users.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the filebrowser widget's upload mechanism, which does not properly verify that requests originate from legitimate user interactions. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or embed scripts that automatically submit file upload requests to the vulnerable Mahara instance without user consent. The flaw operates by leveraging the browser's automatic handling of cookies and session information, allowing attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. This particular vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 for credential access through forged requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables unauthorized file uploads into user accounts, potentially allowing attackers to introduce malicious content such as web shells, phishing materials, or other harmful files that could compromise the integrity of the learning environment. Users who visit malicious websites or click on compromised links could unknowingly have files uploaded to their accounts, creating persistent threats that may go undetected for extended periods. The vulnerability particularly affects educational institutions using Mahara as their learning management system, where the uploaded files could contain malware, phishing content, or other security threats that could compromise student data or institutional resources.
Mitigation strategies for this CSRF vulnerability include implementing proper anti-CSRF tokens in all file upload operations within the filebrowser widget, ensuring that each request contains unique, unpredictable tokens that validate the user's intent. Organizations should also implement strict origin validation checks and consider implementing additional authentication layers for file upload operations. The recommended solution involves upgrading to the patched versions of Mahara as specified in the CVE details, while also implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious file upload patterns. Security administrators should conduct regular audits of file upload functionality and implement monitoring systems that can detect unauthorized file uploads, particularly those occurring outside normal user behavior patterns. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of visiting untrusted websites and clicking on suspicious links remains crucial in preventing exploitation of this particular vulnerability.