CVE-2018-7745 in Bridge Cobub Razor
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Western Bridge Cobub Razor 0.7.2. Authentication is not required for /index.php?/install/installation/createuserinfo requests, resulting in account creation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-7745 affects the Western Bridge Cobub Razor analytics platform version 0.7.2, presenting a critical authentication flaw that undermines the system's security posture. This issue resides within the installation and user management components of the software, specifically targeting the endpoint /index.php?/install/installation/createuserinfo which is designed to handle user account creation during the installation process. The flaw represents a fundamental failure in access control mechanisms that allows any remote attacker to create user accounts without proper authentication credentials, effectively bypassing the platform's intended security architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control checks within the installation module of Cobub Razor. When an attacker accesses the designated endpoint without authentication, the system fails to verify the requestor's identity or authorization level before executing the user creation function. This represents a classic case of insufficient authentication controls as defined by CWE-287, where the system does not properly verify the identity of users attempting to perform privileged operations. The vulnerability exists because the application does not enforce proper session management or authentication tokens before allowing account creation, creating an attack surface that directly violates the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables unauthorized account creation within the analytics platform that could lead to various downstream security consequences. An attacker who exploits this vulnerability can create legitimate user accounts with potentially elevated privileges, allowing them to gain persistent access to the system and potentially escalate their privileges further. This flaw directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1133 which involves persistence through account creation, and T1078 which covers valid accounts as a means of maintaining access. The vulnerability also facilitates potential data exfiltration and manipulation activities since the attacker can now establish accounts that may have access to sensitive analytics data or system configuration settings.
The security implications extend beyond simple unauthorized account creation to encompass potential privilege escalation and long-term system compromise. Once an attacker has created an account, they may be able to leverage this access to perform actions such as viewing sensitive reports, modifying analytics configurations, or even using the compromised account to access other integrated systems. This vulnerability creates a backdoor that persists even after the initial exploitation attempt, as the created accounts remain valid and usable. Organizations using Cobub Razor 0.7.2 are particularly vulnerable because this flaw exists in the installation phase, meaning that even systems that have completed initial setup could be compromised if an attacker gains access during or after the installation process. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security design principles that violate fundamental security engineering practices and could indicate additional weaknesses in the application's overall security architecture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper authentication controls and access verification mechanisms. Organizations should ensure that all installation and user management endpoints require valid authentication before allowing account creation operations to proceed. The recommended approach includes implementing robust session management, enforcing proper authentication tokens, and adding access control checks that verify the requesting user's authorization level before executing privileged operations. This remediation aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, specifically addressing the need for proper authentication and access control mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their entire software stack to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities and implement comprehensive input validation and access control measures across all application components. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be enforced to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities, and network segmentation should be implemented to limit the potential impact of successful attacks on this specific flaw.