CVE-2017-7682 in OpenMeetings
Summary
by MITRE
Apache OpenMeetings 3.2.0 is vulnerable to parameter manipulation attacks, as a result attacker has access to restricted areas.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2019
Apache OpenMeetings version 3.2.0 contains a critical security vulnerability classified as parameter manipulation that allows unauthorized access to restricted areas within the application. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters before processing them within the application's core functionality. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate URL parameters or form fields to bypass authentication and authorization checks, potentially gaining access to administrative functions, user data, or other restricted resources that should be protected from unauthorized users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters that control access to different sections of the system. When users interact with the application through web interfaces or API endpoints, the system should verify that the requesting user has proper authorization levels before granting access to sensitive areas. However, in the affected version, attackers can manipulate parameters such as user IDs, session tokens, or access level indicators to impersonate authorized users or bypass access controls entirely. This weakness creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation attacks and unauthorized data access scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized administrative actions. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could access confidential user information, modify system configurations, manipulate meeting records, or perform administrative functions that would normally require elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects the entire user management and access control system within Apache OpenMeetings, making it a critical concern for organizations that rely on this platform for video conferencing and collaborative meetings. Security researchers have identified this issue as a significant threat to the confidentiality and integrity of the application's data and access control mechanisms.
Organizations using Apache OpenMeetings version 3.2.0 should immediately implement mitigations including applying the official security patches released by the Apache Software Foundation, implementing additional input validation measures, and conducting comprehensive access control reviews. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software applications, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level controls such as web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious parameter manipulation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the access control and credential access domains. Additionally, organizations should perform thorough security assessments of their OpenMeetings installations to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure proper access control configurations are in place to prevent unauthorized access to restricted areas.