CVE-2018-18941 in Vignette Content Management
Summary
by MITRE
In Vignette Content Management version 6, it is possible to gain remote access to administrator privileges by discovering the admin password in the vgn/ccb/user/mgmt/user/edit/0,1628,0,00.html?uid=admin HTML source code, and then creating a privileged user account. NOTE: this product is discontinued.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2023
This vulnerability exists within Vignette Content Management version 6, a discontinued content management system that was widely used for enterprise web publishing and content management. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows attackers to escalate privileges and gain full administrative control over the system. The vulnerability stems from improper access controls and insecure credential handling within the user management interface, specifically in the URL path vgn/ccb/user/mgmt/user/edit/0,1628,0,00.html?uid=admin. This particular endpoint reveals administrative credentials in the HTML source code, effectively exposing sensitive authentication information to any attacker who can access the system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves a multi-step process that begins with reconnaissance to identify the vulnerable administrative endpoint. Once discovered, attackers can extract the administrative password directly from the HTML source code, bypassing normal authentication mechanisms entirely. This exposure occurs because the system fails to properly validate user permissions before rendering sensitive administrative information, creating a path for privilege escalation. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-287 - Improper Authentication, which specifically addresses situations where authentication mechanisms are flawed or improperly implemented, allowing unauthorized users to assume legitimate identities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any organization utilizing the affected version of Vignette Content Management. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains complete administrative control over the content management system, enabling them to modify, delete, or exfiltrate all content stored within the platform. This includes sensitive corporate data, customer information, and potentially proprietary content that could be used for financial gain or competitive advantage. The vulnerability also creates a persistent backdoor that can be exploited repeatedly, allowing attackers to maintain long-term access to the compromised system. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, and significant reputational damage when such vulnerabilities are exploited in production environments.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts, specifically focusing on the use of legitimate administrative credentials obtained through information disclosure. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1548.001 - Abuse of Functionality, as it involves the exploitation of legitimate administrative functionality to gain unauthorized access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling or removing the vulnerable administrative endpoints, implementing proper access controls, and ensuring that administrative credentials are not exposed in client-side code or HTML source. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts. The discontinuation of this product means that official security patches are no longer available, making the implementation of these compensating controls critical for any remaining installations. Organizations should also conduct thorough security audits to identify any other instances of credential exposure within their content management infrastructure and consider migrating to supported, modern content management platforms that follow current security best practices.