CVE-2020-16263 in Winston
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2020
Winston 1.5.4 devices have a CORS configuration that trusts arbitrary origins. This allows requests to be made and viewed by arbitrary origins.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-16263 affects Winston 1.5.4 devices and represents a critical cross-origin resource sharing misconfiguration that fundamentally compromises web application security. This flaw resides in the CORS policy implementation where the device accepts requests from any origin without proper validation, creating an avenue for unauthorized access to sensitive resources. The vulnerability stems from the device's failure to properly enforce origin-based access controls, which is a fundamental security mechanism designed to prevent malicious websites from making unauthorized requests to the device's API endpoints. This misconfiguration allows attackers to craft malicious web pages that can interact with the device's resources as if they were legitimate requests from trusted origins.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the device's CORS configuration accepting wildcard origins or failing to validate the origin header in incoming HTTP requests. When a web application makes cross-origin requests to the device, the device's web server should verify that the requesting origin is authorized to access the requested resources. However, in this case, the device accepts all origins, meaning any website can make requests to the device and potentially access or manipulate its functionality. This flaw specifically relates to CWE-346, which addresses the lack of proper origin validation in web applications, and can be categorized under the broader category of insecure cross-origin resource sharing configurations that are commonly exploited in web-based attacks. The vulnerability creates an environment where attackers can perform unauthorized operations through malicious web pages that leverage the device's CORS configuration to make requests on behalf of users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to execute cross-site request forgery attacks against the device, potentially leading to unauthorized access to device management functions, data exfiltration, or even device compromise. An attacker could craft a malicious website that automatically makes requests to the device's API endpoints, potentially changing device settings, accessing sensitive configuration data, or performing administrative actions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the device's web interface, which is likely used for device management and configuration. This means that an attacker could potentially gain administrative access to the device or manipulate its operational parameters, leading to service disruption, data compromise, or even physical security implications depending on the device's role in the network. The attack surface is significantly expanded because any website can exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly challenging to defend against.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper CORS configuration that validates the origin header against a whitelist of trusted domains. Organizations should configure the device's web server to reject requests from untrusted origins and only allow access from known and authorized domains. This approach aligns with the principle of least privilege and follows security best practices outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including those referenced in the ATT&CK framework for web application attacks. The device should be updated to a version that properly implements CORS validation, and network segmentation should be implemented to limit access to the device's management interface. Additionally, implementing additional security controls such as authentication mechanisms, IP whitelisting, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts can provide layered defense against exploitation of this vulnerability. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar misconfigurations in other network devices and applications.