CVE-2018-14872 in Rincewind
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Rincewind 0.1. A reinstall vulnerability exists because the parameter p of index.php and another file named commonPages.php allows an attacker to reinstall the product, with all data reset.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14872 represents a critical reinstall flaw in the Rincewind 0.1 web application framework that fundamentally compromises system integrity and data security. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and authentication controls within the application's core files, specifically index.php and commonPages.php, which fail to properly verify user permissions before executing destructive reinstall operations. The vulnerability creates a path for unauthorized actors to reset the entire product installation, resulting in complete data loss and system reconfiguration that bypasses normal administrative controls.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs through improper parameter handling where the 'p' parameter in both index.php and commonPages.php files lacks proper authorization checks and input sanitization. When an attacker submits a malicious request containing the 'p' parameter with specific values, the application executes the reinstall functionality without verifying whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges. This design flaw aligns with CWE-863, which addresses "Incorrect Authorization" vulnerabilities where the system fails to properly validate access rights before performing privileged operations. The vulnerability exists at the application logic level where authentication and authorization mechanisms are insufficiently implemented, creating an attack surface that allows arbitrary users to perform system-level operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations to severe data integrity breaches and service disruption scenarios. The ability to reset all product data through a simple parameter manipulation creates a high-impact attack vector that can result in complete system compromise and data loss. Organizations relying on Rincewind 0.1 for critical operations face potential business disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and financial losses due to data destruction and system restoration requirements. The vulnerability also enables attackers to potentially establish persistent access points by resetting system configurations and reinstalling malicious components, making it particularly dangerous in environments where continuous system availability and data integrity are paramount.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss to encompass broader security implications including potential privilege escalation and system compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to reset system configurations, potentially bypassing security controls and creating opportunities for further exploitation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by its simplicity and the fact that it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, making it attractive to both skilled and less experienced threat actors. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework, particularly under the techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms where attackers can manipulate system configurations to maintain access. Mitigation strategies must include implementing proper parameter validation, enforcing strict authentication checks, and ensuring that privileged operations require explicit authorization before execution. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their web applications to identify similar authorization flaws and implement defense-in-depth strategies including input validation, access control enforcement, and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.