CVE-2020-20128 in LaraCMS
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2021
LaraCMS v1.0.1 transmits sensitive information in cleartext which can be intercepted by attackers.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/04/2021
This vulnerability affects LaraCMS version 1.0.1 where sensitive information is transmitted in cleartext rather than being properly encrypted during network communication. The flaw represents a critical security weakness that violates fundamental principles of secure communication protocols and data protection. The cleartext transmission exposes user credentials, session tokens, and other confidential data to interception attacks, making the application particularly vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks and network sniffing operations. This vulnerability directly contravenes industry standards such as CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-319 (Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information) which specifically address the improper handling of sensitive data during transmission.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to enforce secure communication protocols such as TLS/SSL for data transmission. When users interact with the CMS, their authentication credentials, personal information, and administrative data are sent over unencrypted channels, allowing attackers with network access to capture and decode this information using standard packet analysis tools. This weakness creates an attack surface that enables credential theft, session hijacking, and unauthorized access to administrative functions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core communication mechanisms of the CMS, potentially compromising all user accounts and administrative privileges within the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass complete system compromise and data breaches. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to user accounts, manipulate content, and potentially escalate privileges to administrative levels. The cleartext transmission also exposes the application to passive reconnaissance attacks where network traffic analysis can reveal system architecture, user behavior patterns, and other sensitive operational details. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 (Network Service Scanning) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) when attackers attempt to identify and exploit weak communication channels within the network infrastructure.
Organizations using this vulnerable version of LaraCMS face significant security risks including regulatory compliance violations, reputational damage, and potential legal consequences. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including public network access, compromised network nodes, or insider threats. Mitigation strategies must include immediate implementation of TLS encryption for all communications, proper certificate management, and network segmentation to limit attack surface. Security controls should also incorporate network monitoring for unusual traffic patterns and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. Organizations should also consider implementing additional layers of authentication such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of credential compromise even when transmission security is breached. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of following established security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001 for protecting sensitive information in transit.