CVE-2018-14868 in Community
Summary
by MITRE
Incorrect access control in the Password Encryption module in Odoo Community 9.0 and Odoo Enterprise 9.0 allows authenticated users to change the password of other users without knowing their current password via a crafted RPC call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14868 represents a critical access control flaw within the Password Encryption module of Odoo Community and Enterprise versions 9.0. This issue stems from improper validation of user permissions during password change operations, creating a significant security weakness that undermines the authentication mechanisms of the platform. The flaw specifically affects the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) interface, which is a fundamental component for system administration and user management within the Odoo ecosystem. Organizations utilizing these versions face substantial risk due to the potential for unauthorized privilege escalation and account takeover scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted RPC call that bypasses the normal password verification process required for user account modifications. When authenticated users submit a password change request through the RPC interface, the system fails to properly validate whether the requesting user has legitimate authorization to modify the target user's credentials. This oversight stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient permission checks within the password encryption module's backend processing logic. The vulnerability essentially allows any authenticated user to construct a malicious RPC request that modifies another user's password without requiring knowledge of the current password, effectively circumventing the security controls designed to protect user accounts.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents severe implications for organizations relying on Odoo for business-critical applications. Attackers who gain access to any authenticated user account can leverage this flaw to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to other user accounts, potentially including administrative accounts. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft as it enables persistent access to sensitive business data, financial records, and system configurations. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require advanced technical skills or specialized tools, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with limited security monitoring capabilities. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the integrity of the authentication system.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the vendor-provided security patches released for this vulnerability, which address the access control validation issues in the RPC interface. Network segmentation and monitoring of RPC traffic should be enhanced to detect anomalous password change activities. Additional protective measures include implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, restricting RPC access to trusted network segments, and establishing robust audit logging for all password modification operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1531 for credential stuffing, highlighting the need for comprehensive defensive strategies. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses in other system components and ensure overall security posture remains strong against evolving threats.