CVE-2017-15053 in TeamPass
Summary
by MITRE
TeamPass before 2.1.27.9 does not properly enforce manager access control when requesting roles.queries.php. It is then possible for a manager user to modify any arbitrary roles within the application, or delete any arbitrary role. To exploit the vulnerability, an authenticated attacker must have the manager rights on the application, then tamper with the requests sent directly, for example by changing the "id" parameter when invoking "delete_role" on roles.queries.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2023
TeamPass version 2.1.27.9 and earlier contains a critical access control vulnerability that allows authenticated manager users to bypass intended security restrictions when interacting with role management functionality. This vulnerability exists in the roles.queries.php component where the application fails to properly validate and enforce access control boundaries for manager users. The flaw specifically manifests when a manager attempts to perform delete_role operations, enabling them to manipulate any role within the system regardless of their assigned permissions or the role's actual access level. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks that should occur before processing role modification requests. An attacker with manager privileges can simply modify the request parameters, particularly the "id" parameter, to target any role in the system, effectively granting them unlimited administrative capabilities over the role management subsystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic authorization bypass flaw where the application trusts client-side input without proper server-side validation. When a manager user invokes the delete_role function through roles.queries.php, the system should verify that the user has appropriate authorization to modify the target role, but instead accepts any role identifier provided in the request. This represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate access control enforcement mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and specifically relates to the absence of proper access control checks in the role management interface. The flaw operates at the application logic level where the system fails to maintain proper access control boundaries between different user roles and their respective permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows a compromised or malicious manager user to completely undermine the application's role-based access control system. An attacker could delete critical administrator roles, modify existing roles to grant unauthorized access, or create new roles with elevated privileges that could compromise the entire application. This vulnerability effectively nullifies the role-based access control mechanisms that TeamPass implements, turning what should be a controlled administrative function into a potential vector for complete system compromise. The implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation as the attacker gains the ability to manipulate the fundamental security architecture of the application, potentially allowing them to establish persistent access or cause denial of service conditions by removing critical access controls.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation and access control checks within the roles.queries.php component. The system must validate that manager users can only modify roles for which they have explicit authorization, typically through a role hierarchy or explicit assignment. Implementing proper parameter validation and access control checks before processing any role modification requests will prevent unauthorized access to arbitrary roles. The application should maintain a clear audit trail of role modifications and implement proper session management to ensure that access control decisions are consistently enforced. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as role-based access control enforcement, input sanitization, and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application. This vulnerability highlights the importance of defense in depth and proper access control implementation as outlined in the mitre ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques.