CVE-2017-20075 in Hindu Matrimonial Script
Summary
by MITRE • 06/21/2022
A vulnerability was found in Hindu Matrimonial Script. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown part of the file /admin/payment.php. The manipulation leads to improper privilege management. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-20075 represents a critical security flaw within the Hindu Matrimonial Script web application, demonstrating a significant weakness in access control mechanisms that could enable unauthorized administrative actions. This vulnerability specifically targets the /admin/payment.php file, which serves as a critical administrative interface for processing payment transactions within the matrimonial platform. The flaw stems from improper privilege management, where the application fails to adequately verify user permissions before granting access to administrative functions, creating a path for unauthorized users to escalate their privileges and assume administrative roles.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and represents a classic case of privilege escalation where attackers can bypass normal authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that malicious actors can leverage this flaw from external networks without requiring physical access to the system, significantly expanding the attack surface and potential impact. The disclosure of the exploit to the public community indicates that this vulnerability has become widely known and potentially accessible to threat actors who may actively seek to exploit such weaknesses in deployed applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it could enable attackers to manipulate payment processing systems, potentially leading to financial fraud, data theft, and service disruption. Administrative access to payment functions could allow attackers to modify transaction records, create fraudulent payments, or redirect funds to their own accounts. The implications for the Hindu Matrimonial Script platform are severe, as users trust the application with sensitive personal and financial information, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous from both a business continuity and customer protection perspective.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting T1068 which covers local privilege escalation and T1548 which addresses abuse of service permissions. Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of proper access controls, enforcement of role-based access control mechanisms, and comprehensive code review of all administrative endpoints. The recommended remediation involves strengthening authentication checks within the /admin/payment.php file, implementing proper session management, and ensuring that all administrative functions require explicit authorization before execution. Additionally, network segmentation and web application firewalls should be deployed to limit access to administrative interfaces and monitor for suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts.