CVE-2021-28171 in deltaFlow E-Platform
Summary
by MITRE • 04/06/2021
The Vangene deltaFlow E-platform does not take properly protective measures. Attackers can obtain privileged permissions remotely by tampering with users’ data in the Cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2021
The Vangene deltaFlow E-platform vulnerability CVE-2021-28171 represents a critical authorization flaw that stems from inadequate session management and cookie security mechanisms within the web application. This vulnerability specifically targets the platform's handling of user authentication tokens stored in browser cookies, creating a pathway for remote privilege escalation attacks. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in implementing proper access control measures that should prevent unauthorized users from assuming elevated privileges within the system. Security researchers identified that the platform fails to properly validate cookie contents, allowing attackers to manipulate session identifiers and gain unauthorized administrative access to the E-platform environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's session management architecture where cookie-based authentication tokens lack proper integrity protection and cryptographic validation. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious cookie values that contain forged session data or manipulated user permissions, effectively bypassing the platform's authentication mechanisms. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-384, which addresses session management flaws where applications fail to properly validate session tokens or implement adequate protection against session hijacking attacks. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or insider knowledge of internal processes to leverage this weakness.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-28171 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and complete administrative control over the Vangene deltaFlow E-platform. Successful exploitation allows attackers to perform actions such as modifying user accounts, accessing sensitive data, altering system configurations, and potentially establishing persistent backdoors within the environment. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can target the platform from any location with internet connectivity, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on the platform for critical business operations. This vulnerability also enables lateral movement within networks where the platform might be integrated with other systems, potentially leading to broader security incidents.
Organizations utilizing the Vangene deltaFlow E-platform should implement immediate mitigations including strengthening cookie security measures through proper encryption and integrity validation mechanisms. The platform should enforce secure cookie attributes such as HttpOnly, Secure, and SameSite flags to prevent client-side manipulation and cross-site scripting attacks. Additionally, implementing robust session management protocols with proper token validation, session timeout mechanisms, and regular session regeneration should be prioritized. The fix should align with established security frameworks such as the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and NIST SP 800-53 guidelines for session management and authentication controls. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities within their application architecture and implement proper input validation and output encoding to prevent similar authorization bypass scenarios.