CVE-2018-7248 in ServiceDesk Plus
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Zoho ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus 9.3 Build 9317. Unauthenticated users are able to validate domain user accounts by sending a request containing the username to an API endpoint. The endpoint will return the user's logon domain if the accounts exists, or 'null' if it does not.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2020
This vulnerability in Zoho ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus 9.3 Build 9317 represents a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines the security posture of the affected system. The issue stems from an improperly secured API endpoint that lacks authentication requirements for domain user validation requests. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending crafted requests containing usernames to the vulnerable endpoint, which then responds with either the user's logon domain or a null response indicating account non-existence. This behavior creates a direct pathway for unauthorized enumeration of valid user accounts within the domain, effectively serving as a reconnaissance tool for potential attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and demonstrates how insufficient access controls can lead to unauthorized information disclosure. The flaw operates at the application layer where the API endpoint fails to validate user credentials or session tokens before processing domain validation requests. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege, as the system provides domain information to any requester without proper authentication mechanisms. The response behavior creates a deterministic pattern that attackers can leverage for account enumeration, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for environments where domain user validation is sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to perform systematic enumeration of valid user accounts within the domain. This capability significantly reduces the attack surface for subsequent exploitation attempts, including password spraying, brute force attacks, or social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on domain-based authentication systems, where the exposure of valid user accounts can lead to cascading security issues. Attackers can use the enumeration results to craft targeted attacks against specific users, potentially leading to privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The impact is particularly severe in environments where user account information is considered sensitive and should remain protected from unauthorized access.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enforcing authentication requirements for all API endpoints, implementing rate limiting to prevent automated enumeration attempts, and conducting comprehensive security reviews of all application interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of applying the principle of least privilege and ensuring that all API endpoints require proper authentication before processing sensitive requests. Security controls should include monitoring for unusual API access patterns, implementing account lockout mechanisms for failed authentication attempts, and ensuring that domain information is only accessible to authorized users with legitimate business requirements. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable endpoints and establish proper logging and alerting mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include updating to the latest available version of ServiceDesk Plus where the vulnerability has been addressed and conducting thorough penetration testing to identify similar issues in other applications.