CVE-2017-2144 in Garoon
Summary
by MITRE
Cybozu Garoon 3.0.0 to 4.2.4 may allow an attacker to lock another user's file through a specially crafted page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2144 affects Cybozu Garoon versions 3.0.0 through 4.2.4, representing a significant security flaw that enables unauthorized file locking operations within the collaborative platform. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the application's file management system, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate file access permissions. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the application's handling of specially crafted web pages that can trigger unintended file locking behaviors, effectively preventing legitimate users from accessing critical documents. Such a flaw directly impacts the availability and integrity of shared resources within enterprise collaboration environments where Garoon serves as a primary document management and workflow platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data within the file locking functionality. When the system processes specially crafted page requests, it fails to properly validate the origin and content of the file access requests, allowing attackers to construct malicious payloads that manipulate the file locking mechanism. This weakness creates a privilege escalation scenario where unauthorized users can gain control over files belonging to other users, effectively creating a denial of service condition for legitimate users. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through web-based attacks without requiring elevated privileges or specialized equipment, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users share collaborative workspaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2144 extends beyond simple file access disruption, creating potential for significant business continuity issues and data governance violations. Organizations relying on Garoon for document collaboration and workflow management face the risk of unauthorized file manipulation, which can lead to data loss, workflow interruptions, and compromised business processes. The vulnerability can be exploited to lock critical business documents, preventing legitimate users from completing their work, while simultaneously providing attackers with potential access to sensitive information. This type of attack aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack technique matrix under technique T1485 (Data Destruction) and T1486 (Data Encrypted for Ransom) as it creates conditions where file availability is compromised. The vulnerability also represents a weakness in the application's access control model, which should be categorized under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery) based on the specific implementation details.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the vendor-provided patches and updates, implementing additional input validation measures, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of their Garoon deployments. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure, while monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect anomalous file locking activities. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched versions to ensure that the vulnerability is fully resolved without introducing new issues. Security teams should also consider implementing automated alerting mechanisms for suspicious file access patterns and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing file locking anomalies. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the application's architecture, particularly focusing on access control implementations and user input handling mechanisms that could lead to privilege escalation or resource manipulation attacks.