CVE-2018-8764 in LDAP Account Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Roland Gruber Softwareentwicklung LDAP Account Manager before 6.3 places a CSRF token in the sec_token parameter of a URI, which makes it easier for remote attackers to defeat a CSRF protection mechanism by leveraging logging.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-8764 affects Roland Gruber Softwareentwicklung LDAP Account Manager versions prior to 6.3, representing a critical weakness in the application's cross-site request forgery protection mechanisms. This flaw stems from the improper handling of security tokens within the application's URI structure, specifically placing the CSRF token in the sec_token parameter of the URI rather than utilizing more secure storage mechanisms such as HTTP-only cookies or hidden form fields. The implementation violates fundamental security principles for CSRF protection and creates a significant attack vector that adversaries can exploit to bypass intended security controls.
The technical flaw manifests when the application generates and validates CSRF tokens for protecting against cross-site request forgery attacks. In this case, the security token is embedded directly within the URI parameters rather than being stored in a secure, non-persistent location such as a session cookie or hidden form field. This design choice exposes the token to various attack vectors including logging mechanisms, browser history, referral headers, and web server logs. When attackers can observe or predict the token value through these channels, they can construct malicious requests that appear legitimate to the application's validation mechanisms, effectively neutralizing the CSRF protection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple bypass of CSRF protection, creating a comprehensive security risk for organizations relying on LDAP Account Manager for user account management. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform unauthorized actions such as adding or modifying user accounts, changing passwords, or altering access permissions without proper authentication. The vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous when combined with other attack vectors, as the exposed token can be used in conjunction with social engineering or other techniques to execute unauthorized administrative actions. This creates a significant risk for identity and access management systems where the application serves as a central point for user account provisioning and management.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. Additionally, this flaw relates to ATT&CK technique T1531, which covers "Account Access Removal" and other credential manipulation techniques that could be facilitated through this vulnerability. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to LDAP Account Manager version 6.3 or later, which addresses this specific token placement issue. Administrators should also review application logs for potential exploitation attempts and consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual URI patterns that might indicate CSRF attack attempts. The fix typically involves changing how CSRF tokens are generated and stored, moving from URI-based token placement to more secure storage mechanisms that prevent exposure through logging or other mechanisms while maintaining effective CSRF protection.