CVE-2019-5891 in Geocall
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in OverIT Geocall 6.3 before build 2:346977. An unauthenticated servlet allows an attacker to obtain a cookie of an authenticated user, and login to the web application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5891 affects OverIT Geocall 6.3 prior to build 2:346977 and represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that undermines the security posture of the web application. This issue stems from an improperly secured servlet that fails to validate user authentication status before exposing sensitive session information. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit a specific endpoint that returns user session cookies without requiring valid credentials or authentication tokens. This misconfiguration creates a direct pathway for attackers to impersonate legitimate users within the application environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-384, which addresses session fixation and cookie manipulation issues in web applications. The flaw occurs because the servlet in question does not perform adequate authentication checks before providing access to session management functions. Attackers can simply make a request to the vulnerable endpoint and receive a valid session cookie that corresponds to an authenticated user's session. This cookie can then be used to establish an authenticated session within the application, effectively bypassing the normal authentication process. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and insufficient access control mechanisms that are fundamental to secure web application design.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts without requiring knowledge of valid credentials or exploiting other authentication mechanisms. Once an attacker obtains a valid session cookie, they can perform any actions that the legitimate user is authorized to perform within the application. This includes accessing sensitive data, modifying configurations, or executing administrative functions depending on the user's privileges. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor that allows attackers to maintain persistent access to the application as authenticated users, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, or further lateral movement within the network. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability does not require any prior authentication or specialized tools beyond basic web request capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-5891 should focus on implementing proper authentication checks and access controls for all servlet endpoints within the application. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a version that addresses this vulnerability. The remediation process involves ensuring that all servlets properly validate authentication status before exposing session information or performing sensitive operations. Security measures should include implementing proper session management practices, enforcing strict access controls, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege when designing web applications. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication, session timeout mechanisms, and comprehensive logging to track access attempts and detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper authentication handling and access control implementation in preventing unauthorized system access.