CVE-2019-16106 in Humatrix 7
Summary
by MITRE
The Recruitment module in Humanica Humatrix 7 1.0.0.203 and 1.0.0.681 allows an unauthenticated attacker to change the password of any user via the recruitment_online/personalData/act_acounttab.cfm txtNewUserName and hdNP fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-16106 resides within the recruitment module of Humanica Humatrix 7 version 1.0.0.203 and 1.0.0.681, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that enables unauthorized access to user accounts. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and authentication controls within the web application's user management functionality, specifically affecting the recruitment_online/personalData/act_acounttab.cfm endpoint. The vulnerability manifests through the manipulation of two critical parameters: txtNewUserName and hdNP fields, which are processed without proper authorization checks, allowing any remote attacker to exploit this weakness without requiring prior authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient authorization checks and improper input sanitization, classified under CWE-285: Improper Authorization. The flaw occurs when the application processes user account modification requests through the act_acounttab.cfm script, where the system fails to validate whether the requesting user possesses legitimate authorization to modify another user's account details. Attackers can craft malicious requests that include arbitrary username values in the txtNewUserName field and corresponding hidden parameters in the hdNP field, effectively bypassing the normal authentication flow and enabling password reset operations for any target account. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a lack of proper access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple account compromise, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the application's user base and potentially sensitive recruitment data. An unauthenticated attacker can systematically target multiple user accounts, potentially gaining access to confidential candidate information, recruitment process details, and administrative privileges if the targeted accounts hold elevated roles. The attack vector is particularly dangerous due to its accessibility from any network location without requiring initial authentication, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation campaigns. This vulnerability can be exploited to conduct account takeover attacks, data exfiltration, and potentially serve as a foothold for further lateral movement within the organization's network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security gap and implement comprehensive access control measures throughout the application. Organizations should immediately implement proper authentication checks for all user account modification endpoints, ensuring that only authorized users can modify account details of other users. The recommended approach involves implementing robust input validation, enforcing strict authorization controls, and implementing proper session management practices. Security measures should include mandatory authentication for all administrative functions, proper parameter validation, and the implementation of access control lists that verify user permissions before allowing account modifications. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing rate limiting and monitoring mechanisms to detect and prevent automated exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078: Valid Accounts, as it enables attackers to leverage legitimate user accounts for unauthorized access, and T1531: Account Access Removal, as it can be used to compromise user accounts and potentially disable legitimate access. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authorization flaws in other application modules, while implementing comprehensive logging and monitoring of account modification activities to detect suspicious behavior patterns.