CVE-2020-15411 in MISP
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in MISP 2.4.128. app/Controller/AttributesController.php has insufficient ACL checks in the attachment downloader.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-15411 affects MISP version 2.4.128 and represents a critical access control flaw within the application's attribute attachment handling functionality. This issue resides in the app/Controller/AttributesController.php file where insufficient access control list checks are implemented for the attachment downloader component. The flaw allows unauthorized users to potentially access sensitive data through the download mechanism that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. MISP, or Malware Information Sharing Platform, is designed to facilitate information sharing about cyber threats and malware analysis among security professionals, making proper access controls essential for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of shared intelligence.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions within the AttributesController's attachment download functionality. When users attempt to download attachments associated with attributes within the MISP system, the application fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to access the specific attachment. This weakness creates an avenue for privilege escalation where unauthorized individuals can bypass normal access controls and retrieve files that should remain restricted to authorized personnel. The flaw specifically impacts the ACL (Access Control List) validation mechanism that should enforce proper authorization checks before permitting file downloads, demonstrating a failure in the application's security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it undermines the fundamental security model of MISP systems that rely on proper access controls to protect sensitive threat intelligence. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to access confidential malware samples, intelligence reports, or other sensitive attachments that may contain information about ongoing investigations, zero-day exploits, or targeted attacks against specific organizations. This exposure creates significant risks for security teams who depend on MISP for collaborative threat hunting and incident response activities, as compromised systems could lead to the leakage of valuable intelligence that could be used by adversaries to improve their attack strategies or evade detection.
Organizations using MISP 2.4.128 should prioritize immediate remediation through official patches provided by the MISP development team, as this vulnerability directly contradicts security best practices established in industry standards such as CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access. The flaw represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege, where users should only have access to resources necessary for their specific roles within the security operations environment. Security teams should also implement additional monitoring of download activities and review access logs to detect potential exploitation attempts, while considering temporary mitigations such as restricting access to the affected functionality until proper patches are deployed across all systems. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security controls in threat intelligence platforms where the exposure of sensitive data could significantly impact the broader cybersecurity community's ability to defend against evolving threats.