CVE-2018-16672 in CirCarLife
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in CIRCONTROL CirCarLife before 4.3. Due to the storage of multiple sensitive information elements in a JSON format at /services/system/setup.json, an authenticated but unprivileged user can exfiltrate critical setup information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16672 resides within the CIRCONTROL CirCarLife system version 4.2 and earlier, presenting a significant information disclosure risk that stems from improper handling of sensitive configuration data. This flaw affects the system's security posture by exposing critical setup information through a misconfigured file storage mechanism that lacks adequate access controls or data sanitization measures. The vulnerability specifically targets the /services/system/setup.json endpoint where multiple sensitive information elements are stored in plaintext JSON format, creating an attack surface that unauthorized users can exploit. The issue demonstrates a clear violation of secure coding practices and data protection principles, as sensitive system configuration details are stored without proper encryption or access restrictions. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and data classification, where system-level information is made accessible to users who should not have such visibility into the underlying infrastructure. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-200, Information Exposure, which specifically addresses the improper exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fact that the system stores multiple sensitive elements including but not limited to authentication credentials, system configuration parameters, and potentially network settings within a single JSON file structure. The unprivileged user, while authenticated, gains access to a file that contains a comprehensive overview of the system's setup, effectively providing an attacker with valuable intelligence for further exploitation attempts. This configuration file storage pattern represents a common security misconfiguration where sensitive data is not properly compartmentalized or encrypted, allowing for unauthorized access to system configuration information that could be leveraged for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The JSON format itself is not inherently insecure, but the lack of proper access controls and the inclusion of multiple sensitive data points within the same file creates a dangerous combination that significantly increases the attack surface. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, File and Directory Discovery, as it enables an attacker to identify and access sensitive system files that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed setup information could enable sophisticated attack vectors including but not limited to credential reuse attacks, network reconnaissance, and system compromise through targeted exploitation. An attacker with access to this information could potentially identify weak authentication mechanisms, network configurations, or other system parameters that could be leveraged for more advanced attacks. The vulnerability also impacts the system's overall security architecture by creating a potential entry point for attackers who might use the disclosed information to craft more effective targeted attacks against the system or its components. The exposure of system setup information could lead to cascading security issues where the initial compromise of this single file could result in broader system infiltration and data breaches. Organizations relying on CirCarLife systems may face regulatory compliance issues and security audit failures due to this vulnerability, as it demonstrates inadequate protection of sensitive system information and violates standard security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 controls for information protection. The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of access controls on the setup.json file, proper data encryption for sensitive elements, and comprehensive review of all system configuration files to prevent similar exposures in other components of the system.