CVE-2017-12584 in SLiMS 8 Akasia
Summary
by MITRE
There is no CSRF mitigation in SLiMS 8 Akasia through 8.3.1. Also, an entire user profile (including the password) can be updated without sending the current password. This allows remote attackers to trick a user into changing to an attacker-controlled password, a complete account takeover, via the passwd1 and passwd2 fields in an admin/modules/system/app_user.php changecurrent=true operation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-12584 affects SLiMS 8 Akasia versions through 8.3.1 and represents a critical security flaw that combines multiple authentication and authorization weaknesses. This vulnerability exists within the administrative user management system of the SLiMS digital library software, specifically in the application/modules/system/app_user.php file where the changecurrent=true operation is processed. The flaw stems from the complete absence of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection mechanisms, which allows attackers to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. Additionally, the system fails to implement proper password verification during profile updates, creating a dangerous privilege escalation vector that directly enables account takeover attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of CSRF token validation in the administrative user profile update functionality. When an administrator or regular user accesses the changecurrent=true operation, the system accepts password changes without requiring the current password for verification. This design flaw creates a fundamental security gap where an attacker can craft malicious requests that modify user credentials without proper authentication. The vulnerability specifically targets the passwd1 and passwd2 fields in the application's user management interface, allowing attackers to set new passwords that will immediately take effect upon successful request execution. This weakness operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various attack vectors including social engineering, phishing campaigns, or by leveraging existing session tokens.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-12584 is severe and potentially devastating for organizations using affected SLiMS versions. Remote attackers can achieve complete account takeover without requiring knowledge of the current password, effectively bypassing the standard authentication process. This vulnerability enables unauthorized individuals to assume administrative privileges, access sensitive bibliographic data, modify system configurations, and potentially compromise the entire digital library infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects the core user management functionality of the system, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent access to library databases. Organizations may experience unauthorized data modifications, information disclosure, and potential system compromise that could lead to extended service disruption and regulatory compliance violations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and CWE-614, which covers insecure session management. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this weakness maps to T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering techniques. The attack pattern follows T1190 for exploitation of web applications and T1078.004 for cloud accounts, as the vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate user credentials and gain unauthorized access to system resources. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including the addition of proper CSRF tokens to all administrative operations, implementation of current password verification for profile modifications, and enforcement of secure session management practices. These remediations directly address the root causes of the vulnerability and align with industry best practices for web application security.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing comprehensive CSRF protection mechanisms throughout the application's administrative interface, requiring current password verification for all credential modifications, and establishing proper input validation and sanitization for all user profile update operations. Security patches should be applied immediately to upgrade to versions that address these authentication weaknesses, while organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their SLiMS installations to identify potential secondary vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing network segmentation, access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized credential changes can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper authentication mechanisms and the necessity of implementing multiple security controls to protect against sophisticated attack vectors targeting administrative interfaces.