CVE-2019-18986 in Pimcore
Summary
by MITRE
Pimcore before 6.2.2 allow attackers to brute-force (guess) valid usernames by using the 'forgot password' functionality as it returns distinct messages for invalid password and non-existing users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-18986 affects Pimcore versions prior to 6.2.2 and represents a critical information disclosure issue that enables attackers to perform user enumeration through the password reset functionality. This flaw stems from the application's inconsistent response handling during authentication attempts, specifically when users attempt to reset their passwords through the forgot password mechanism. The vulnerability exposes a fundamental security weakness in the authentication flow that directly violates established security principles for protecting user account information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the password recovery module where the system provides different error messages depending on whether the submitted username exists in the system or not. When an attacker submits a non-existent username, the system returns a distinct message indicating that the user does not exist, whereas submitting a valid username but incorrect password produces a different response indicating that the password is incorrect. This differential response behavior creates a clear information leakage channel that allows threat actors to systematically test usernames and determine which accounts are valid within the system. The flaw directly maps to CWE-200, Information Exposure, and specifically CWE-384, Session Management Issues, as it enables unauthorized enumeration of valid user accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple user enumeration, as it provides attackers with a foundation for more sophisticated attacks including credential stuffing, targeted phishing campaigns, and social engineering efforts. Once valid usernames are discovered, attackers can leverage this information to conduct password spraying attacks against multiple accounts simultaneously, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive content management systems. The vulnerability affects organizations using Pimcore for content management, digital asset management, and web application hosting where user account security is paramount. This issue represents a significant risk to organizations that rely on Pimcore for managing sensitive digital content and user access controls, as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the authentication system.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to Pimcore version 6.2.2 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through consistent error messaging that does not distinguish between invalid users and incorrect passwords. The recommended approach involves configuring the password reset functionality to return identical error messages for all failed attempts, regardless of whether the username exists or not. Security controls should also include rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms to prevent automated enumeration attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their authentication systems and implement proper monitoring for suspicious login patterns. The mitigation strategy aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts, by preventing the initial reconnaissance phase that attackers use to identify valid accounts. Network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems and web application firewalls should also be configured to detect and block automated enumeration attempts, while regular security audits should verify that similar information disclosure vulnerabilities do not exist in other authentication mechanisms within the organization's attack surface.