CVE-2020-12257 in rConfig
Summary
by MITRE
rConfig 3.9.4 is vulnerable to cross-site request forgery (CSRF) because it lacks implementation of CSRF protection such as a CSRF token. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability by creating a form (add a user, delete a user, or edit a user).
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-12257 affects rConfig version 3.9.4 and represents a critical cross-site request forgery weakness that fundamentally compromises the application's security posture. This flaw resides in the application's failure to implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms, specifically the absence of CSRF tokens in critical user management operations. The vulnerability manifests when legitimate users perform administrative tasks such as adding, deleting, or editing user accounts, making it particularly dangerous for systems that rely on rConfig for network configuration management and automation. The absence of CSRF protection creates a significant attack surface where malicious actors can exploit the trust relationship between the web application and its users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's lack of anti-CSRF measures within its user management interfaces. When users navigate to pages that perform administrative actions, the application does not validate the authenticity of requests through the use of unique tokens that would normally be generated for each session and required for form submissions. This allows an attacker to craft malicious HTML pages or exploit existing user sessions to execute unauthorized actions without the user's knowledge or consent. The flaw directly aligns with CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a weakness where a malicious website can cause a user's browser to perform actions they did not intend to execute. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate user accounts, potentially leading to privilege escalation, unauthorized access to network resources, or complete compromise of the rConfig management interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-12257 extends beyond simple account manipulation and represents a serious threat to network infrastructure security. In environments where rConfig manages critical network configurations, an attacker could leverage this vulnerability to add malicious users with administrative privileges, delete legitimate users to disrupt operations, or modify existing user permissions to gain unauthorized access to network devices. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication from the attacker to the target system, relying instead on social engineering or the exploitation of existing user sessions. This vulnerability can be exploited through various means including email phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or even within the same network through malicious internal links, making it a versatile threat that can be deployed in multiple attack scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-12257 must focus on implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the rConfig application. The most effective approach involves integrating anti-CSRF tokens into all state-changing operations, particularly those related to user management functions. These tokens should be generated per session and validated on each request to ensure that the request originates from the legitimate user interface rather than a malicious third-party site. Organizations should also implement the principle of least privilege for rConfig administrators and consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication, network segmentation, and regular security audits. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following established security frameworks like the OWASP Top Ten, which includes CSRF as a fundamental web application security risk. Additionally, the ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, highlighting the need for proper input validation and request authentication controls. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious patterns in user management activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.