CVE-2018-15640 in Odoo
Summary
by MITRE
Improper access control in the Helpdesk App of Odoo Enterprise 10.0 through 12.0 allows remote authenticated attackers to obtain elevated privileges via a crafted request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15640 represents a critical access control flaw within the Helpdesk application of Odoo Enterprise versions 10.0 through 12.0. This issue stems from inadequate privilege validation mechanisms that permit authenticated attackers to manipulate request parameters and escalate their access rights within the system. The vulnerability specifically affects the Helpdesk module's authorization framework, where proper access controls are not consistently enforced during request processing. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious HTTP requests that bypass normal permission checks, potentially gaining access to administrative functions or sensitive data that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The flaw exists in the application's session management and role-based access control implementation, where the system fails to properly validate user permissions before executing privileged operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems. This weakness allows attackers to perform actions beyond their intended privileges by manipulating request parameters or exploiting gaps in access control enforcement. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where user authentication occurs but fails to maintain proper authorization boundaries during subsequent operations. The Helpdesk application's API endpoints and administrative interfaces are particularly susceptible since they handle sensitive data operations including ticket management, user assignment, and system configuration changes. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform unauthorized actions such as viewing confidential customer information, modifying support tickets, or accessing restricted administrative functions without proper authentication credentials.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations using Odoo Enterprise platforms, particularly those handling sensitive customer support data or requiring strict access controls. The remote exploitation capability means attackers can leverage this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter, making it particularly dangerous for cloud-hosted deployments. Organizations may experience unauthorized data access, potential data breaches, and compromise of customer support workflows. The elevated privileges gained through this attack could enable attackers to manipulate support ticket histories, access confidential communications, or even modify system configurations that affect service availability and data integrity. Additionally, the vulnerability may facilitate further attacks within the network as attackers can use the elevated access to explore other system components or escalate privileges to full administrative control.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-15640 should focus on immediate patch application from Odoo security updates, which typically address the authorization validation gaps in the Helpdesk module. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to the Helpdesk application and enforce strict firewall rules to restrict external access to administrative interfaces. Regular security audits should verify that access control mechanisms are properly enforced throughout the application, particularly around API endpoints and administrative functions. The implementation of multi-factor authentication and enhanced monitoring for suspicious access patterns can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments to identify similar authorization flaws in other modules. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 for valid accounts and T1531 for credential access, as attackers can leverage legitimate user accounts to escalate privileges. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious request patterns associated with privilege escalation attempts.