CVE-2017-18376 in TheHive
Summary
by MITRE
An improper authorization check in the User API in TheHive before 2.13.4 and 3.x before 3.3.1 allows users with read-only or read/write access to escalate their privileges to the administrator's privileges. This affects app/controllers/UserCtrl.scala.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18376 represents a critical authorization flaw within TheHive platform's user management system. This issue exists in versions prior to 2.13.4 and 3.x prior to 3.3.1, specifically affecting the application controller responsible for user account management. The flaw manifests in the app/controllers/UserCtrl.scala file where insufficient validation mechanisms fail to properly verify user privileges before granting administrative access. This improper authorization check creates a pathway for privilege escalation that directly undermines the system's security model and access control framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege verification within the User API endpoints. When users with read-only or read/write permissions attempt to access certain administrative functions, the system fails to properly authenticate their elevated privilege requests. This weakness allows malicious actors or compromised accounts to exploit the authorization gap and assume administrator roles without proper authentication. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the user controller logic that handles privilege management operations. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-285: Improper Authorization issue where the system fails to properly enforce access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing TheHive platform for case management and incident response operations. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw can gain complete administrative control over the platform, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive case information, and complete compromise of the security infrastructure. The escalation from read-only to administrator privileges allows for unrestricted access to all system functions, including user management, case manipulation, and system configuration changes. This vulnerability directly conflicts with fundamental security principles outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004: Valid Accounts - Cloud Accounts, where unauthorized access to administrative functions can be achieved through privilege escalation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to TheHive versions 2.13.4 or 3.3.1 where the authorization checks have been properly implemented. Additional defensive measures include monitoring user access logs for suspicious privilege escalation attempts, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the User API endpoints, and conducting thorough privilege reviews to ensure least-privilege access principles are maintained. Security teams should also consider implementing automated detection mechanisms that can identify anomalous access patterns consistent with privilege escalation attempts. The fix addresses the root cause by strengthening the authorization validation process and ensuring that all privilege elevation requests are properly authenticated before any administrative access is granted.