CVE-2017-14585 in Server
Summary
by MITRE
A Server Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability could lead to remote code execution for authenticated administrators. This issue was introduced in version 2.2.0 of Hipchat Server and version 3.0.0 of Hipchat Data Center. Versions of Hipchat Server starting with 2.2.0 and before 2.2.6 are affected by this vulnerability. Versions of Hipchat Data Center starting with 3.0.0 and before 3.1.0 are affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/10/2019
The CVE-2017-14585 vulnerability represents a critical server-side request forgery flaw that fundamentally compromises the security posture of Hipchat Server and Data Center platforms. This vulnerability specifically targets authenticated administrator accounts and creates a pathway for remote code execution through a carefully crafted SSRF attack vector. The flaw was introduced in version 2.2.0 of Hipchat Server and version 3.0.0 of Hipchat Data Center, making it a persistent threat across multiple platform versions. The vulnerability affects all versions starting from these initial releases through the specified unaffected versions, creating a substantial attack surface that spans several major releases. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-918 category, which specifically addresses server-side request forgery vulnerabilities that enable attackers to make requests to internal systems that would normally be protected from external access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the platform's request handling mechanisms. When authenticated administrators interact with certain API endpoints, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate external URLs that are processed as part of legitimate administrative functions. This allows an attacker to manipulate the system into making requests to internal services or resources that should remain isolated from external access. The flaw particularly affects endpoints that handle external resource references, where the application does not adequately verify the destination of these requests or implement proper access controls. The vulnerability's design allows for arbitrary URL resolution, enabling attackers to target internal services such as internal APIs, databases, or other administrative interfaces that are typically protected by network segmentation. This represents a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege and proper access control implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data theft or service disruption. An attacker with administrator credentials can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code on the affected server, potentially gaining complete control over the Hipchat platform and all associated data. The remote code execution capability means that attackers can install malware, modify system configurations, access sensitive communications, and potentially escalate their privileges to gain access to underlying infrastructure. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor that bypasses normal authentication and authorization mechanisms, allowing attackers to operate with elevated privileges within the system. This poses significant risks to enterprise communications, as Hipchat servers often contain sensitive business information, employee communications, and potentially confidential data that could be accessed or modified. The impact is particularly severe in environments where Hipchat serves as a primary communication platform for critical business operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the remediation measures provided in the patched versions 2.2.6 for Hipchat Server and 3.1.0 for Hipchat Data Center. The most effective mitigations include applying the vendor-provided patches as soon as possible and implementing network-level restrictions that prevent the affected systems from accessing internal resources that could be exploited through SSRF attacks. Additional protective measures include implementing strict URL validation for all external resource references, deploying web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious requests, and establishing network segmentation to limit access between different system components. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of system configurations to ensure that no unauthorized modifications have occurred and monitor for unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper access control mechanisms, and organizations should review their existing security controls to prevent similar issues from occurring in other applications and systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and remote code execution, emphasizing the need for robust application security practices and continuous monitoring of administrative access patterns.