CVE-2017-7589 in OpenIDM
Summary
by MITRE
In OpenIDM through 4.0.0 before 4.5.0, the info endpoint may leak sensitive information upon a request by the "anonymous" user, as demonstrated by responses with a 200 HTTP status code and a JSON object containing IP address strings. This is related to a missing access-control check in bin/defaults/script/info/login.js.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2017-7589 represents a critical information disclosure flaw in OpenIDM versions prior to 4.5.0, specifically affecting versions through 4.0.0. This issue manifests through the info endpoint which fails to properly validate access permissions for anonymous users, creating a significant security risk in identity management systems. The vulnerability stems from a missing access-control check in the script file bin/defaults/script/info/login.js, which is part of the default OpenIDM installation package. When an anonymous user makes a request to the info endpoint, the system responds with a 200 HTTP status code containing sensitive information in JSON format, including IP address strings that reveal internal network topology and system configuration details. This represents a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a classic security misconfiguration that allows unauthorized access to system information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the absence of proper authentication and authorization checks within the OpenIDM scripting framework. The info endpoint, designed to provide system information, should enforce access controls to prevent anonymous users from retrieving potentially sensitive data about the system's operational environment. The flaw specifically resides in the login.js script where the system fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to access the information being returned. This missing access control mechanism creates a pathway for attackers to gather intelligence about the system's internal structure, network configuration, and operational parameters without requiring valid credentials or authentication. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor, and represents a clear violation of the principle of information hiding in security architecture design.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked IP addresses and system information can serve as valuable intelligence for attackers planning more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who discovers these IP addresses can map the internal network topology, identify potential targets for further reconnaissance, and potentially exploit other vulnerabilities that may exist within the identified systems. The 200 HTTP status code response indicates that the system is functioning normally, which can mask the information disclosure for extended periods and make detection more difficult. This vulnerability can be leveraged as part of a reconnaissance phase in the attack lifecycle, potentially mapping to ATT&CK technique T1087.001 which involves account discovery and T1069.001 for permission groups discovery. The information leakage can also contribute to broader attack surface expansion by revealing system configurations that may be exploited in subsequent stages of an attack, including potential exploitation of other vulnerabilities within the same system or related components.
Organizations using OpenIDM versions prior to 4.5.0 should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves updating to OpenIDM version 4.5.0 or later, where the access control checks have been properly implemented in the info endpoint script. Additionally, administrators should review and enforce proper access controls within their OpenIDM configuration, ensuring that anonymous users cannot access sensitive system information through any endpoint. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit access to the info endpoint, particularly when external access is not required. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of requests to the info endpoint, as these may indicate reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of implementing proper access control mechanisms at all levels of system architecture and demonstrates the critical need for regular security assessments and updates to prevent information disclosure vulnerabilities that can significantly compromise system security posture and provide attackers with valuable intelligence for planning more targeted attacks.