CVE-2017-16756 in HelpSpot
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Userscape HelpSpot before 4.7.2. A cross-site request forgery vulnerability exists on POST requests to the "index.php?pg=password.change" endpoint. This allows an attacker to change the password of another user's HelpSpot account.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-16756 represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within Userscape HelpSpot software prior to version 4.7.2. This security weakness resides in the password change functionality of the application's web interface, specifically targeting the POST endpoint located at "index.php?pg=password.change". The flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate the authentication system by tricking authenticated users into inadvertently submitting forged requests that alter account credentials without their knowledge or consent.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. The technical implementation of this flaw stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation mechanisms within the password change request processing. When a legitimate user accesses the HelpSpot application and subsequently visits a malicious website or clicks on compromised links, the attacker can construct a crafted POST request that automatically submits to the vulnerable endpoint. The application fails to verify the authenticity of the request origin, allowing unauthorized password modifications to occur.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with persistent access to compromised user accounts and potentially elevated privileges within the HelpSpot environment. Once an attacker successfully changes another user's password, they gain unauthorized access to sensitive support ticket data, user communications, system configurations, and other confidential information stored within the HelpSpot application. This compromise can escalate to full system control if the affected accounts possess administrative privileges or access to critical infrastructure components.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.002, which focuses on credential access through spearphishing with links. Attackers typically deploy this exploit by embedding malicious links within phishing emails or compromised websites that target HelpSpot users. The vulnerability affects the authentication and session management components of the application, undermining the integrity of user sessions and potentially enabling broader compromise of the HelpSpot installation. Organizations utilizing affected versions of HelpSpot face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-16756 require immediate implementation of proper CSRF protection mechanisms including the deployment of anti-CSRF tokens for all state-changing operations. Organizations should upgrade to HelpSpot version 4.7.2 or later, which includes the necessary security patches addressing this vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls, conducting regular security assessments, and establishing robust user authentication practices including multi-factor authentication. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns and unauthorized password change activities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security updates and patch management procedures to prevent exploitation of known security flaws.