CVE-2019-3758 in RSA Archer
Summary
by MITRE
RSA Archer, versions prior to 6.6 P2 (6.6.0.2), contain an improper authentication vulnerability. The vulnerability allows sysadmins to create user accounts with insufficient credentials. Unauthenticated attackers could gain unauthorized access to the system using those accounts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-3758 affects RSA Archer versions prior to 6.6 P2, representing a critical weakness in the system's authentication mechanisms that undermines the security posture of organizations relying on this platform. This improper authentication flaw stems from insufficient validation of user credentials during account creation processes, allowing system administrators to inadvertently establish user accounts with weak or inadequate authentication parameters. The vulnerability creates a dangerous scenario where malicious actors can exploit these poorly configured accounts to gain unauthorized access to the system without proper authentication.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The flaw manifests when system administrators create user accounts without enforcing proper credential strength requirements or authentication protocols. This weakness enables attackers to manipulate the account creation process and establish legitimate-looking user accounts with minimal security controls. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it leverages the existing administrative functions within the system, making it appear as a legitimate user account rather than a malicious intrusion attempt. Attackers can exploit this by creating accounts with weak passwords or bypassing standard authentication requirements, effectively circumventing the intended security controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-3758 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates persistent backdoors within the system that can be exploited repeatedly. Once attackers gain access through these improperly authenticated accounts, they can maintain long-term presence within the environment, potentially escalating privileges and accessing sensitive data. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations using RSA Archer for governance, risk management, and compliance operations, where the compromise of user accounts could lead to significant data breaches and regulatory violations. The ease with which attackers can exploit this vulnerability means that organizations may remain unaware of unauthorized access for extended periods, creating opportunities for data exfiltration and system manipulation.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to RSA Archer 6.6 P2 or later versions that address the authentication weakness. System administrators must enforce strict credential policies during account creation, ensuring that all user accounts require strong authentication mechanisms including multi-factor authentication where possible. The implementation of automated security scanning tools can help identify existing compromised accounts within the system. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security audits of user account creation processes and implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous account creation patterns or suspicious authentication attempts. These measures align with ATT&CK framework techniques related to credential access and privilege escalation, ensuring comprehensive protection against exploitation of this vulnerability. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper authentication controls and the need for regular security updates to protect against known weaknesses in enterprise software platforms.