CVE-2019-9884 in Open eClass
Summary
by MITRE
eClass platform < ip.2.5.10.2.1 allows an attacker to use GETS method to request /admin page to bypass the password validation and access management page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9884 affects the eClass platform version prior to ip.2.5.10.2.1, representing a critical authorization bypass flaw that undermines the platform's security controls. This issue stems from improper validation of authentication mechanisms within the web application's access control system, specifically targeting the administrative interface that should be protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability allows attackers to circumvent the standard authentication process by exploiting a weakness in how the application handles HTTP GET requests to administrative endpoints.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTTP request methods, specifically leveraging the GET method to access protected administrative pages without proper credential validation. This flaw demonstrates a classic case of inadequate input validation and access control implementation where the application fails to properly verify user permissions before granting access to sensitive administrative functions. The vulnerability essentially creates an insecure direct object reference condition where the application does not adequately check whether the requesting user has appropriate authorization levels to access the requested administrative resources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations using the affected eClass platform as it allows unauthorized individuals to gain administrative access to the system. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data breaches, system compromise, and complete administrative control over the platform's configuration and user management capabilities. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to modify system settings, add or remove users, access sensitive data, and potentially establish persistent access to the platform. The low complexity of exploitation means that even relatively unsophisticated attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability successfully.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in security design. From an attacker's perspective, this flaw maps directly to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and defense evasion categories, specifically targeting the credential access and persistence domains. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest version of the eClass platform, implementing proper access control mechanisms, and conducting thorough security assessments of all administrative interfaces to ensure similar vulnerabilities are not present in other components of their systems.
The remediation approach should focus on strengthening authentication and authorization controls within the application, implementing proper input validation for all HTTP request methods, and ensuring that administrative endpoints require proper authentication before granting access. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for unusual access patterns to administrative interfaces that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive security testing, including penetration testing and code reviews, to identify and remediate authorization bypass issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors in real-world scenarios.