CVE-2018-17287 in Front Office Server
Summary
by MITRE
In Kofax Front Office Server Administration Console 4.1.1.11.0.5212, some fields, such as passwords, are obfuscated in the front-end, but the cleartext value can be exfiltrated by using the back-end "download" feature, as demonstrated by an mfp.password downloadsettingvalue operation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17287 resides within the Kofax Front Office Server Administration Console version 4.1.1.11.0.5212, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the system's data protection mechanisms. This issue manifests through a fundamental weakness in how sensitive information is handled within the application's user interface and backend operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the obfuscation mechanisms that are supposed to protect sensitive fields such as passwords, which are displayed in an obfuscated format to end users within the front-end interface. However, the security model fails to adequately protect these same sensitive values when accessed through backend operations, creating a significant gap in the application's security posture.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the backend download feature, which provides unauthorized access to cleartext values that are normally obscured in the user interface. The attack vector is demonstrated through the mfp.password downloadsettingvalue operation, which allows malicious actors to extract sensitive configuration data in plain text format. This particular operation bypasses the front-end obfuscation mechanisms entirely, exposing the underlying cleartext values that should remain protected. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor through which attackers can access sensitive information that is typically protected through user interface obfuscation, undermining the principle of least privilege and data protection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with direct access to authentication credentials and configuration data that could be used for further exploitation within the target environment. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes the improper exposure of sensitive information, and represents a clear violation of security best practices for handling sensitive data. The ability to extract cleartext passwords through backend operations creates opportunities for privilege escalation, lateral movement, and complete system compromise. Attackers could leverage this information to gain unauthorized access to additional systems, escalate privileges within the Kofax environment, or conduct more sophisticated attacks that rely on valid authentication credentials.
From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the T1552.001 technique for credentials in files and T1078.002 technique for valid accounts. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of T1003, which involves OS credential dumping, as attackers can extract credentials that would normally be protected through obfuscation. Organizations using Kofax Front Office Server Administration Console are at significant risk, as this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain persistent access to the system and potentially compromise the entire infrastructure that relies on this administration console for configuration management.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the affected Kofax Front Office Server Administration Console to the latest available version that addresses this specific flaw. Organizations should implement additional access controls and monitoring around backend download operations to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit access to the administration console to only authorized personnel with legitimate business needs. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other administrative interfaces. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output filtering mechanisms can help prevent similar issues in other applications that may expose sensitive data through backend operations.