CVE-2018-19505 in Remedy
Summary
by MITRE
Remedy AR System Server in BMC Remedy 7.1 may fail to set the correct user context in certain impersonation scenarios, which can allow a user to act with the identity of a different user, because userdata.js in the WOI:WorkOrderConsole component allows a username substitution involving a UserData_Init call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19505 resides within the BMC Remedy AR System Server version 7.1, specifically affecting the WOI:WorkOrderConsole component through the userdata.js file. This issue represents a critical user context manipulation flaw that enables unauthorized privilege escalation through improper impersonation handling. The vulnerability stems from the UserData_Init call within the userdata.js implementation which fails to properly validate or enforce user identity boundaries during session transitions, creating an environment where malicious actors can substitute their own credentials for those of other users.
This security weakness fundamentally compromises the authentication and authorization mechanisms that should protect user sessions and data access within the Remedy AR System environment. The flaw operates by allowing an attacker to manipulate the user context through the UserData_Init function, effectively bypassing normal access controls and enabling unauthorized individuals to execute operations with elevated privileges belonging to other users. The vulnerability specifically affects the impersonation functionality where the system should maintain strict user identity boundaries but instead permits substitution attacks that can lead to complete compromise of user accounts and their associated permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and complete compromise of user sessions within the BMC Remedy environment. Attackers exploiting this flaw can access sensitive work order information, modify critical business processes, and potentially escalate their access to administrative functions depending on the permissions of the targeted user accounts. The vulnerability affects organizations relying on BMC Remedy for business process management and service desk operations, where unauthorized access to work orders and user data can severely disrupt business continuity and compromise sensitive operational information.
Security professionals should recognize this issue as a variant of improper privilege management and credential handling, aligning with CWE-285 for improper authorization and CWE-306 for missing authentication. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through application vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest available versions of BMC Remedy AR System, implementing additional access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized user context changes within the system. Network segmentation and privilege least-privilege principles should be enforced to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that user context management functions operate correctly without allowing unauthorized substitution behaviors.