CVE-2020-15949 in Immuta
Summary
by MITRE • 11/05/2020
Immuta v2.8.2 is affected by one instance of insecure permissions that can lead to user account takeover.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-15949 affects Immuta version 2.8.2 and represents a critical insecure permissions flaw that can potentially lead to user account takeover. This issue stems from improper access control mechanisms within the application's permission system, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to escalate their privileges and gain control over legitimate user accounts. The vulnerability specifically manifests through insufficient validation of user permissions during critical operations, allowing malicious actors to exploit weaknesses in the authentication and authorization framework.
From a technical perspective, this insecure permissions vulnerability operates at the application level where user access controls fail to properly enforce security boundaries. The flaw likely exists in how the system validates user credentials and determines what actions each user can perform within the application. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and CWE-798 which covers the use of hard-coded credentials or permissions. The vulnerability creates a condition where an attacker can manipulate permission checks or bypass existing access controls through carefully crafted requests or by exploiting specific API endpoints that do not properly validate user roles or privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable comprehensive account takeover scenarios that compromise the integrity and confidentiality of user data. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, modify user permissions, and potentially access other users' data or perform administrative functions within the Immuta environment. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to data breaches, unauthorized data access, and potential compliance violations in regulated environments where data governance is critical. The risk is particularly severe given that Immuta is designed for data governance and access control, making this vulnerability especially dangerous for organizations relying on the platform for sensitive data management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-15949 should focus on implementing robust access control measures and comprehensive permission validation throughout the application. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of Immuta that addresses the insecure permissions issue, while also implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication, regular permission audits, and continuous monitoring of access patterns. Security teams should conduct thorough reviews of all permission systems and ensure that proper input validation and access control checks are implemented at every layer of the application. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following ATT&CK framework principles, specifically the privilege escalation techniques that attackers might use to exploit such insecure permissions, requiring organizations to implement defensive measures against these attack patterns. Additionally, organizations should establish regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their access control systems and ensure proper enforcement of security boundaries.