CVE-2017-15207 in Kanboard
Summary
by MITRE
In Kanboard before 1.0.47, by altering form data, an authenticated user can edit tasks of a private project of another user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15207 represents a critical access control flaw in the Kanboard project management platform affecting versions prior to 1.0.47. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks within the application's task management functionality, allowing authenticated users to manipulate form data and gain unauthorized access to private project tasks belonging to other users. The vulnerability specifically exploits the lack of proper project ownership verification during task modification operations, creating a path for privilege escalation and unauthorized data access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of form data parameters that control task editing permissions. When an authenticated user attempts to modify a task, the application fails to properly validate whether the requesting user has legitimate authorization to access or modify the target task within a private project. This weakness typically manifests when the application relies on client-side form fields or hidden parameters that can be altered by malicious users. The flaw operates at the application logic level rather than at the database or network layer, making it particularly insidious as it bypasses traditional security controls that might otherwise prevent such unauthorized access attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, creating potential for significant security breaches within collaborative environments where private project data is involved. An attacker with access to a legitimate user account can exploit this flaw to view, modify, or potentially delete tasks within other users' private projects, effectively compromising the confidentiality and integrity of project information. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to unauthorized modifications of project timelines, task assignments, and sensitive project data. The impact is particularly severe in environments where Kanboard is used for managing sensitive business operations, development projects, or confidential client work where private project boundaries are essential for maintaining information security.
Organizations utilizing Kanboard versions prior to 1.0.47 should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched version 1.0.47 or later, which addresses this authorization bypass through enhanced input validation and proper access control checks. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to Kanboard instances, enforcing strict user access controls, and monitoring for unusual task modification patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) as it exploits legitimate user credentials to gain unauthorized access to resources. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security testing of form data handling and access control mechanisms to prevent similar issues in other application components.