CVE-2018-18246 in Web 2
Summary
by MITRE
Icinga Web 2 before 2.6.2 has CSRF via /icingaweb2/config/moduledisable?name=monitoring to disable the monitoring module, or via /icingaweb2/config/moduleenable?name=setup to enable the setup module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2020
This vulnerability exists in Icinga Web 2 versions prior to 2.6.2 and represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw that allows unauthorized users to manipulate module configurations without proper authentication. The vulnerability specifically targets two endpoints: /icingaweb2/config/moduledisable?name=monitoring and /icingaweb2/config/moduleenable?name=setup, which can be exploited to disable monitoring modules or enable setup modules respectively. The flaw stems from the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that would execute these administrative actions when victims visit compromised web pages or click on malicious links. This represents a classic CSRF vulnerability categorized under CWE-352, where the application fails to validate the origin of requests, making it susceptible to attacks that can be executed through social engineering or by luring victims to malicious websites.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to construct a malicious webpage that automatically submits requests to the vulnerable Icinga Web 2 instance when a victim visits the page. The attacker can leverage this to disable critical monitoring modules, effectively removing the ability to monitor system health, or enable the setup module which could provide unauthorized access to administrative functions. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing, as it typically requires social engineering to deliver the malicious payload to victims. The impact extends beyond simple module manipulation since disabling monitoring modules can leave critical infrastructure unmonitored, while enabling setup modules could potentially provide attackers with elevated privileges or access to sensitive configuration data.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe for organizations relying on Icinga Web 2 for infrastructure monitoring and management. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can effectively disrupt monitoring operations, potentially leading to undetected system failures or security breaches. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be executed silently in the background of a victim's browser session, making detection difficult. Organizations may experience extended periods of unmonitored infrastructure, creating blind spots for security incidents and system failures. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1484.001 for Privilege Escalation through Domain Controller, as it allows attackers to manipulate the security posture of the monitoring environment. The flaw represents a significant gap in the application's security model, particularly in its handling of administrative operations that should require explicit user confirmation or authentication.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading to Icinga Web 2 version 2.6.2 or later, which includes proper CSRF token validation and protection mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as network segmentation to limit access to Icinga Web 2 interfaces, enforcing strict access controls and authentication mechanisms, and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications. The fix implemented in version 2.6.2 follows industry best practices for CSRF protection by implementing anti-CSRF tokens that validate the authenticity of requests, ensuring that all administrative actions require explicit user consent and proper authentication. This aligns with OWASP Top 10 recommendations for preventing CSRF vulnerabilities and demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices in web application development and deployment.