CVE-2017-11463 in LANDesk Management Suite
Summary
by MITRE
In LANDESK Management Suite 2016.4 and 2017.x, an Unrestricted Direct Object Reference leads to referencing/updating objects belonging to other users. In other words, a normal user can send requests to a specific URI with the target user's username in an HTTP payload in order to retrieve a key/token and use it to access/update objects belonging to other users. Such objects could be user profiles, tickets, incidents, etc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11463 represents a critical security flaw in the LANDESK Management Suite versions 2016.4 and 2017.x, specifically manifesting as an unrestricted direct object reference vulnerability that enables unauthorized access to user data. This weakness stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the application's API endpoints, allowing malicious actors to manipulate object references through crafted HTTP requests. The vulnerability operates by exploiting predictable object identifiers that are directly exposed to users through the application's web interface, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and data compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an authenticated user to manipulate HTTP payloads containing target usernames, effectively bypassing normal access controls that should prevent one user from accessing another user's resources. When a user sends a request to a specific URI with another user's username embedded in the payload, the system fails to validate whether the requesting user has legitimate authorization to access the target user's objects. This flaw results in the system returning sensitive information such as keys or tokens that can then be used to access and modify objects belonging to other users, including but not limited to user profiles, support tickets, and incident reports. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's object management functionality where user identifiers are directly used as part of the object reference mechanism without proper authorization checks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11463 is severe and multifaceted, potentially enabling data breaches, unauthorized modifications, and privilege escalation attacks within organizations using the affected LANDESK Management Suite. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive user information, modify user profiles, manipulate support tickets, and potentially escalate their privileges to gain access to administrative functions. This represents a significant risk to organizational security as it allows for unauthorized data access that could compromise user privacy, disrupt business operations, and potentially lead to further exploitation through lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects the core integrity of the application's access control model, undermining the fundamental security assumptions of user isolation and data protection.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including input validation of all user identifiers, enforcement of proper access control checks, and implementation of session management improvements. The recommended approach involves modifying the application's API endpoints to validate user permissions before processing object reference requests, ensuring that users cannot access objects belonging to other users through manipulated identifiers. Additionally, implementing proper authentication and authorization mechanisms at the application level, including role-based access controls and session token validation, would significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls such as web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious API access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security controls to protect against unauthorized access to user resources.
The remediation process should include applying the vendor-provided security patches or updates that address the unrestricted object reference vulnerability, implementing robust input sanitization mechanisms, and conducting thorough security testing of all API endpoints to ensure proper access control enforcement. Organizations should also perform regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and ensure that access control mechanisms are properly implemented across all system components to prevent unauthorized access to user data and resources.