CVE-2020-15259 in ad-ldap-connector
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2020
ad-ldap-connector's admin panel before version 5.0.13 does not provide csrf protection, which when exploited may result in remote code execution or confidential data loss. CSRF exploits may occur if the user visits a malicious page containing CSRF payload on the same machine that has access to the ad-ldap-connector admin console via a browser. You may be affected if you use the admin console included with ad-ldap-connector versions
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2020
The CVE-2020-15259 vulnerability affects the ad-ldap-connector administrative panel prior to version 5.0.13, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the authentication and authorization mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from the absence of cross-site request forgery protection within the web interface, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to manipulate administrative functions through malicious web requests. The flaw specifically targets the administrative console's lack of anti-CSRF tokens, which are essential components for validating legitimate requests and preventing unauthorized actions. The vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a weakness that enables attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to convince a legitimate administrator to visit a malicious webpage that contains embedded CSRF payloads. When the administrator's browser makes requests to the vulnerable ad-ldap-connector admin panel, the malicious code can execute administrative commands without proper authorization. The attack vector leverages the fact that the browser automatically includes any relevant cookies and authentication tokens when accessing the admin console, making the exploitation straightforward for attackers who can influence the victim's browsing behavior. This weakness creates a direct pathway for remote code execution capabilities, as administrators typically possess elevated privileges within the system. The vulnerability also poses significant risks for confidential data loss, as attackers can manipulate the connector's configuration and potentially extract sensitive information from the directory services.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-15259 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the security model of the ad-ldap-connector system. Organizations utilizing this connector are particularly vulnerable when administrators access the console from shared or public machines, as the attack can occur without requiring network-level access or credentials. The attack requires minimal technical expertise to execute successfully, making it a particularly dangerous vulnerability for widespread exploitation. This flaw directly correlates with ATT&CK technique T1566.002, which describes social engineering attacks targeting credentials, as the exploitation relies on user interaction with malicious content. The vulnerability's impact is amplified when considering that the admin console typically contains sensitive configuration data, user mappings, and authentication settings that could be leveraged for further attacks within the network infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to ad-ldap-connector version 5.0.13 or later, which includes proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Additional defensive measures should encompass network segmentation to isolate administrative access, implementing browser security policies that restrict access to administrative consoles from untrusted networks, and establishing monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The mitigation strategy should also include regular security assessments of web applications and administrative interfaces to identify similar vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and establishing privileged access management systems to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive security testing procedures that include web application security assessments. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure rapid detection and remediation of similar CSRF vulnerabilities that may exist in other systems and applications within their infrastructure.