CVE-2018-20609 in imcat
Summary
by MITRE
imcat 4.4 allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive configuration information via the root/tools/adbug/check.php URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20609 affects the imcat content management system version 4.4, presenting a significant security risk through improper access control mechanisms. This flaw exists within the application's administrative interface where the root/tools/adbug/check.php endpoint fails to properly authenticate or authorize external requests, allowing unauthorized remote attackers to access sensitive configuration data. The vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the system's security architecture as it provides direct access to potentially sensitive information without proper verification of user credentials or privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to enforce access controls on the debug endpoint within the administrative tools section. The check.php script appears to be designed for internal diagnostic purposes but lacks proper authentication checks that would normally be expected in production environments. This allows any remote attacker to directly access the endpoint and retrieve configuration details that could include database connection strings, system paths, administrative credentials, or other sensitive data that would typically be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked configuration information could enable attackers to conduct more sophisticated attacks against the affected system. The exposed data could facilitate further exploitation attempts such as database attacks, credential harvesting, or system compromise through the use of discovered administrative access details. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all administrative interfaces. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no prior authentication and can be exploited from any location with internet connectivity.
Organizations utilizing imcat 4.4 systems should immediately implement mitigations including restricting access to the vulnerable endpoint through network-level controls, implementing proper authentication mechanisms, and ensuring that debug tools are not accessible in production environments. The recommended approach involves either disabling the check.php endpoint entirely in production deployments or enforcing strict access controls that require valid authentication before allowing access to administrative diagnostic tools. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of securing administrative interfaces and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of all application components, particularly those designed for diagnostic or debugging purposes. The issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1211 which involves exploiting weaknesses in system access controls, making it a high-priority remediation for organizations seeking to maintain secure system environments.