CVE-2020-13231 in Cacti
Summary
by MITRE
In Cacti before 1.2.11, auth_profile.php?action=edit allows CSRF for an admin email change.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-13231 affects the Cacti network monitoring platform, specifically targeting versions prior to 1.2.11. This issue resides within the auth_profile.php script which handles user authentication profile management. The flaw represents a cross-site request forgery vulnerability that permits unauthorized modification of administrative email addresses through crafted malicious requests. The vulnerability occurs when an administrator visits a malicious website or clicks on a compromised link while authenticated to the Cacti system, enabling an attacker to silently modify critical administrative contact information without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-CSRF token implementation within the edit action of the authentication profile management functionality. When an administrator accesses the auth_profile.php script with action=edit parameter, the system fails to verify that the request originates from the legitimate application interface rather than an external malicious source. This absence of origin validation creates an exploitable condition where attackers can construct malicious requests that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, modify administrative email addresses within the Cacti system. The vulnerability specifically targets the email change functionality within the user authentication profile management component, making it particularly dangerous for system administrators who rely on email notifications for security alerts and system maintenance.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple email address modification, as it can severely compromise system security and administrative control. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can redirect administrative notifications to their own email addresses, potentially enabling them to intercept critical security alerts, password reset notifications, and system status updates. This modification capability undermines the integrity of the authentication system and can facilitate further attacks such as privilege escalation, unauthorized access to system resources, or complete takeover of administrative functions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal user interaction to exploit, as the victim only needs to be authenticated to the Cacti system when visiting the malicious page, making it an effective vector for targeted attacks against system administrators.
Security mitigations for CVE-2020-13231 should focus on implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the Cacti application. The most effective approach involves implementing robust anti-CSRF token validation for all administrative actions, including the auth_profile.php edit functionality. Organizations should upgrade to Cacti version 1.2.11 or later, which includes the necessary security patches addressing this vulnerability. Additionally, network administrators should implement proper access controls and monitoring of administrative functions to detect unauthorized modifications to user profiles. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts for privilege escalation. Regular security audits should verify that all administrative interfaces implement proper CSRF protection, and organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts to reduce the risk of exploitation.