CVE-2018-7195 in osTicket
Summary
by MITRE
Enhancesoft osTicket before 1.10.2 allows remote attackers to reset arbitrary passwords (when an associated e-mail address is known) by leveraging guest access and guessing a 6-digit number.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/17/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7195 affects Enhancesoft osTicket versions prior to 1.10.2, presenting a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to reset passwords for arbitrary user accounts. This vulnerability specifically exploits the guest access functionality within the osTicket system, where attackers can leverage known email addresses to initiate password reset requests. The flaw stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that allow attackers to guess the 6-digit verification code required for password reset operations, effectively bypassing legitimate authentication controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the password reset mechanism's design, where the system generates a 6-digit numeric code for account recovery purposes. However, the implementation lacks proper rate limiting, input validation, or entropy checks that would prevent brute force attempts. When an attacker possesses a valid email address associated with an osTicket account, they can repeatedly submit password reset requests and systematically guess the verification code. This weakness directly maps to CWE-340, which addresses the generation of predictable random numbers and the lack of proper entropy in security-critical operations. The vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient validation of random numbers, where the predictable nature of 6-digit numeric codes makes them vulnerable to guessing attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete account compromise and potential system infiltration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, potentially accessing sensitive information, modifying records, or conducting further attacks within the compromised system. The guest access functionality that enables this attack vector suggests that the system's privilege model may be inadequately designed, allowing unauthenticated users to perform actions that should require proper authentication. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on osTicket for customer support and communication management, where compromised accounts could lead to data breaches, service disruption, or reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-7195 should focus on implementing stronger password reset mechanisms that incorporate proper entropy requirements for verification codes. Organizations should upgrade to osTicket version 1.10.2 or later, which includes fixes for this vulnerability. Additional security measures should include implementing rate limiting for password reset requests, requiring more complex verification codes with sufficient entropy, and ensuring that guest users have minimal access privileges. The mitigation approach should align with ATT&CK technique T1110, which addresses credential access through various methods including password guessing and brute force attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for critical accounts and monitoring for unusual patterns of password reset requests that may indicate automated attack attempts. Network-level controls such as intrusion detection systems can help identify and block repeated password reset attempts from suspicious sources, while proper logging and audit trails should be maintained to track all password reset activities for security analysis.