CVE-2018-15692 in Partner
Summary
by MITRE
Inova Partner 5.0.5-RELEASE, Build 0510-0906 and earlier allows authenticated users authorization bypass and data manipulation in certain functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-15692 affects Inova Partner version 5.0.5-RELEASE and earlier builds, specifically 0510-0906 and prior versions. This authentication bypass flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of the application's access control mechanisms. The vulnerability allows authenticated users to circumvent authorization checks and manipulate data within specific functions, creating a pathway for unauthorized actions that should be restricted to privileged users only. The issue stems from insufficient validation of user permissions within certain application modules, enabling malicious actors who have already gained access to exploit this weakness for additional privileges and data manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the application's authorization framework where proper access control checks are either missing or inadequately enforced. This authorization bypass occurs within specific functions that should require elevated privileges or specific role-based permissions to execute successfully. The flaw operates at the application layer where user sessions are authenticated but not properly validated against the required authorization levels for various operations. This weakness falls under the category of insufficient authorization checks as defined by CWE-285, which specifically addresses the failure to properly enforce access control mechanisms. The vulnerability represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege, where users can perform actions beyond their designated permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass potential system compromise and data integrity breaches. An authenticated user who exploits this vulnerability can potentially access sensitive information, modify critical data, and perform administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The implications for organizations using Inova Partner 5.0.5-RELEASE or earlier versions are significant as this flaw could enable attackers to escalate privileges within the system and gain access to confidential data that should remain protected. The vulnerability creates opportunities for data exfiltration, system disruption, and unauthorized modifications that could affect business operations and compliance requirements. This authorization bypass weakness could be leveraged as a stepping stone for more extensive attacks within the network environment.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability including updating to the latest available version of Inova Partner that contains the necessary authorization fixes. The recommended approach involves applying the vendor-provided security patches that address the specific authorization bypass conditions in the affected functions. Organizations should also conduct thorough access control reviews and implement additional monitoring for suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and role-based access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. This remediation aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics where unauthorized access to system functions can be used to gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability's exploitation could be detected through anomalous access patterns, unauthorized data modifications, and unusual authentication activities that deviate from normal operational procedures.