CVE-2018-11060 in RSA Archer
Summary
by MITRE
RSA Archer, versions prior to 6.4.0.1, contain an authorization bypass vulnerability in the REST API. A remote authenticated malicious Archer user could potentially exploit this vulnerability to elevate their privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11060 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within RSA Archer's REST API implementation affecting versions prior to 6.4.0.1. This security weakness stems from insufficient access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions when processing API requests. The vulnerability specifically targets the application programming interface that enables external systems to interact with Archer's functionality, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit legitimate user credentials and escalate their privileges beyond their intended access levels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the REST API's permission validation logic where authenticated users can manipulate request parameters or endpoint access patterns to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions or data that should be restricted to privileged users only. This flaw operates under the common weakness pattern described by CWE-285, which encompasses improper authorization scenarios where systems fail to properly enforce access controls. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an attacker to already possess valid authentication credentials, making it an authenticated privilege escalation issue that can be particularly dangerous in environments where users have varying levels of system access.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing RSA Archer for governance, risk management, and compliance processes. The potential for privilege escalation means that a malicious user could access sensitive data, modify critical system configurations, or perform administrative actions that could compromise the integrity of the entire Archer deployment. The remote nature of the exploit allows attackers to leverage this vulnerability from outside the organization's network, making it particularly concerning for enterprises that maintain robust perimeter security measures. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials and valid accounts as a means of gaining access to systems and escalating privileges.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to RSA Archer version 6.4.0.1 or later, which includes the necessary patches to address the authorization bypass issue. Additional mitigations should include implementing network segmentation to restrict access to the REST API endpoints, monitoring API access logs for unusual patterns, and conducting regular privilege reviews to ensure users maintain only the minimum required access levels. Security teams should also consider implementing API gateway solutions with enhanced authentication and authorization controls to provide additional layers of protection around the Archer REST API. The vulnerability's classification as an authenticated privilege escalation issue underscores the importance of maintaining strong user authentication mechanisms and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar authorization flaws in other system components.