CVE-2020-29031 in GateManager
Summary
by MITRE • 02/16/2021
An Insecure Direct Object Reference vulnerability exists in the web UI of the GateManager which allows an authenticated attacker to reset the password of any user in its domain or any sub-domain, via escalation of privileges. This issue affects all GateManager versions prior to 9.2c
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-29031 represents a critical Insecure Direct Object Reference flaw within the GateManager web user interface. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms that allow authenticated attackers to manipulate object references and gain unauthorized privileges. The vulnerability specifically impacts all versions of GateManager prior to 9.2c, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on these older implementations. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly verify user permissions before processing password reset requests, enabling malicious actors to target any user account within their domain or sub-domain.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through privilege escalation techniques where an authenticated user can manipulate the web application's object references to access and modify user accounts beyond their authorized scope. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1531 for credential manipulation. The underlying flaw typically involves the application directly using user-supplied input to construct object references without proper authorization checks, allowing attackers to construct malicious requests that bypass normal access controls. When an attacker submits a password reset request, the system should validate whether the requesting user has permission to reset the target user's password, but this validation is absent or insufficient.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-29031 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the ability to completely compromise user accounts and potentially escalate their privileges to administrative levels. This vulnerability enables attackers to reset passwords for any user within the targeted domain, effectively granting them persistent access to systems and data that should remain protected. The risk is particularly severe in enterprise environments where GateManager serves as a critical access control point, as successful exploitation can lead to complete domain compromise. Organizations may experience unauthorized data access, system manipulation, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-domain or enterprise-scale deployments.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to GateManager version 9.2c or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address this vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing robust input validation for all user-supplied data, enforcing strict access control policies, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. The mitigation strategy should also include monitoring for suspicious password reset activities and implementing multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of credential compromise. Security teams should review and strengthen their access control mechanisms, ensuring that all object references are properly validated and that users can only access resources they are authorized to modify. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper access control implementation and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in object reference handling can result in significant security breaches.