CVE-2018-0808 in ASP.NET Core
Summary
by MITRE
ASP.NET Core 1.0. 1.1, and 2.0 allow an elevation of privilege vulnerability due to how ASP.NET web applications handle web requests, aka "ASP.NET Core Elevation Of Privilege Vulnerability". This CVE is unique from CVE-2018-0784.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/04/2021
The CVE-2018-0808 vulnerability represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw affecting ASP.NET Core versions 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of web requests within ASP.NET web applications, creating a security weakness that could allow attackers to escalate their privileges within the affected systems. The flaw specifically impacts the authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern how web applications process incoming requests and manage user permissions. Unlike CVE-2018-0784 which focuses on a different aspect of ASP.NET Core security, this vulnerability specifically targets the request processing pipeline where user credentials and session information are handled. The vulnerability exists at the core level of how ASP.NET Core applications interpret and process HTTP requests, potentially allowing malicious actors to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized elevated privileges within the application environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the request processing middleware of ASP.NET Core applications where the framework fails to properly validate or sanitize certain request parameters that could influence authentication decisions. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially crafted HTTP requests that manipulate the application's internal state or session management mechanisms. The flaw typically manifests when applications process requests that contain manipulated headers, parameters, or other request elements that should normally be validated before being accepted as legitimate. This improper validation allows attackers to potentially impersonate other users or escalate their privileges from standard user access to administrative or elevated permissions within the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the framework level rather than the application level, meaning that any application built on the affected ASP.NET Core versions could be vulnerable regardless of the specific application logic implemented.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-0808 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, modify application behavior, or potentially compromise entire application environments. Organizations running ASP.NET Core applications on the affected versions face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain access to user accounts, administrative functions, or sensitive business data that should normally be protected by proper access controls. The impact is amplified in environments where ASP.NET Core applications handle critical business functions, customer data, or serve as gateways to internal systems, as successful exploitation could lead to widespread compromise of organizational security posture.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to patched versions of ASP.NET Core, specifically versions 1.1.6, 2.0.6, or later releases that contain the necessary security fixes. Microsoft released security updates addressing this vulnerability through regular patch cycles, and administrators should ensure all affected systems receive these updates promptly. Additionally, organizations should implement network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability may be used as a stepping stone for more comprehensive attacks. The mitigation strategy should include comprehensive testing of patched applications to ensure compatibility and functionality, along with thorough security reviews of application code to identify any custom implementations that might introduce similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control in software systems, and could potentially be leveraged as part of broader attack patterns documented in MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls and request validation mechanisms to provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities in the future.