CVE-2018-15207 in SmartVista
Summary
by MITRE
BPC SmartVista 2 has Improper Access Control in the SVFE module, where it fails to appropriately restrict access: a normal user is able to access the SVFE2/pages/finadmin/currconvrate/currconvrate.jsf functionality that should be only accessible to an admin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15207 affects BPC SmartVista 2 software, specifically within the SVFE module where improper access control mechanisms have been implemented. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the application's authorization framework and allows unauthorized users to access administrative functions that should be restricted to privileged personnel only. The affected functionality resides within the SVFE2/pages/finadmin/currconvrate/currconvrate.jsf component, which handles currency conversion rate management. This particular endpoint represents a sensitive administrative interface that should be protected from normal user access to maintain the integrity of financial data management processes.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure in the application's access control validation mechanisms, where the system does not properly verify user privileges before granting access to administrative pages. This improper access control vulnerability falls under CWE-284 which specifically addresses inadequate access control implementations. The flaw allows a normal user account to bypass authentication checks and directly access the currency conversion rate management functionality, which typically requires administrative privileges. This misconfiguration enables privilege escalation through direct object reference manipulation or parameter tampering, where attackers can simply navigate to the restricted URL path without proper authorization checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it compromises the principle of least privilege and enables potential financial data manipulation. Normal users gaining access to currency conversion rate management could alter exchange rates, potentially causing financial discrepancies, revenue loss, or fraudulent transactions within the business planning and control system. This vulnerability creates an attack surface that could be exploited by both internal malicious actors and external attackers who have gained access to normal user accounts. The implications extend beyond simple unauthorized access as financial data integrity is at risk, potentially affecting budget planning, forecasting, and financial reporting processes that rely on accurate currency conversion rates.
Organizations utilizing BPC SmartVista 2 should immediately implement mitigations including strengthening access control validation mechanisms, implementing proper role-based access controls, and ensuring that all administrative interfaces require explicit authorization checks before granting access. The solution involves configuring the SVFE module to enforce strict authentication and authorization protocols, ensuring that user sessions are properly validated against their assigned roles before granting access to sensitive administrative functions. Security patches should be applied to address the underlying access control implementation, and network segmentation should be employed to limit access to administrative interfaces. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of access attempts to restricted administrative functions will help detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through improper access control mechanisms, emphasizing the need for robust access control validation throughout the application's architecture.