CVE-2018-7209 in iDashboards
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in iDashboards 9.6b. It allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request for the idashboards/config.xml URI, as demonstrated by intranet URLs for reports.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7209 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within iDashboards version 9.6b, a business intelligence and dashboard platform widely deployed in enterprise environments. This vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls and improper authorization mechanisms within the application's URI handling system, specifically affecting the idashboards/config.xml endpoint. The flaw enables remote attackers to directly access sensitive configuration files without proper authentication or authorization, potentially exposing critical system information to unauthorized parties.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a straightforward path traversal attack pattern where the application fails to properly validate incoming requests to the config.xml endpoint. When an attacker sends a direct HTTP request to the idashboards/config.xml URI, the system responds by returning the contents of the configuration file without enforcing any access restrictions. This configuration file typically contains sensitive information including database connection strings, user credentials, system paths, and other potentially exploitable details that could be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects intranet URLs for reports, indicating that the flaw exists in the internal application architecture and not just external-facing components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked configuration data could enable attackers to escalate their privileges and conduct more sophisticated attacks. The exposed database connection strings and credentials could allow unauthorized access to backend databases, while system paths and configuration parameters might reveal the underlying infrastructure architecture. According to CWE-200, this vulnerability maps directly to information disclosure issues where sensitive data is exposed to unauthorized users. The attack vector is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where iDashboards is used for internal reporting and analytics, as it provides attackers with insights into the organization's data flow and system structure.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically under the information gathering and credential access phases. The ability to retrieve configuration files without authentication aligns with techniques used in initial reconnaissance and system enumeration activities. Organizations using iDashboards 9.6b should implement immediate mitigations including access control restrictions on the config.xml endpoint, proper authentication enforcement, and network segmentation to limit exposure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms, as outlined in OWASP Top 10 2017 category A07: Identification and Authentication Failures. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block direct URI access attempts to sensitive configuration files, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar flaws in other enterprise applications.