CVE-2018-12420 in IceHrm
Summary
by MITRE
IceHrm before 23.0.1.OS has a risky usage of a hashed password in a request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12420 affects IceHrm versions prior to 23.0.1.OS and represents a critical security flaw related to improper handling of password hashes within HTTP requests. This issue stems from the application's insecure practice of transmitting password hashes in cleartext format within request parameters, which creates significant exposure for authentication mechanisms and user credentials. The vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of authentication data, potentially allowing attackers to intercept and exploit these hashed credentials during transmission.
The technical implementation flaw manifests when the IceHrm application processes user authentication requests, where password hashes are included in request payloads rather than being properly secured through established cryptographic protocols. This risky usage pattern violates fundamental security principles for credential handling and demonstrates poor adherence to secure coding practices. The vulnerability enables man-in-the-middle attacks where network traffic can be intercepted to capture these password hashes, which may then be subjected to offline brute-force or rainbow table attacks. This weakness specifically aligns with CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling, and represents a clear violation of secure authentication protocol standards.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it creates opportunities for privilege escalation and persistent access to the application. Attackers who intercept these hashed passwords can potentially reuse them across different systems or attempt to reverse-engineer the original passwords through various cracking techniques. The vulnerability also undermines the trust model of the application, as legitimate users may unknowingly expose their credentials during normal authentication processes. This issue particularly affects organizations relying on IceHrm for personnel management and human resources functions, where unauthorized access could lead to sensitive employee data exposure and potential regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-12420 require immediate implementation of secure authentication protocols and proper credential handling mechanisms. Organizations should upgrade to IceHrm version 23.0.1.OS or later, which addresses this vulnerability through improved password hash management and secure transmission practices. Network-level protections including mandatory use of TLS encryption for all authentication requests, implementation of secure session management, and deployment of web application firewalls can help reduce exposure. Additionally, security configurations should enforce strict access controls and monitoring of authentication attempts to detect suspicious activities. The remediation process should include comprehensive security testing to ensure that password hashes are no longer transmitted in request parameters and that proper cryptographic protocols are implemented for credential verification. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure credential handling practices and the necessity of adhering to established security frameworks such as those defined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.