CVE-2021-29023 in InvoicePlane
Summary
by MITRE • 05/18/2021
InvoicePlane 1.5.11 doesn't have any rate-limiting for password reset and the reset token is generated using a weak mechanism that is predictable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-29023 affects InvoicePlane version 1.5.11 and represents a critical security flaw in the password recovery mechanism. This issue stems from the complete absence of rate-limiting controls during password reset operations, creating an environment where malicious actors can perform unlimited password reset requests without any throttling or restriction. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because the reset tokens generated for password recovery are based on a weak cryptographic mechanism that produces predictable values, significantly undermining the security of the authentication process.
The technical implementation flaw lies in the password reset functionality's design where the token generation algorithm lacks proper randomness and cryptographic strength. This predictable token generation mechanism makes it possible for attackers to guess valid reset tokens through systematic enumeration or brute force attempts, effectively bypassing the intended security controls. The absence of rate-limiting combined with predictable token generation creates a perfect storm for account takeover attacks, where an attacker can systematically attempt to reset multiple user accounts and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. This weakness directly aligns with CWE-340, which addresses the generation of predictable random numbers, and represents a failure to implement proper cryptographic practices in security-critical components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted across multiple threat vectors. Attackers can leverage this flaw to conduct large-scale password reset attacks against user accounts, potentially gaining access to financial records, client information, and other sensitive data managed through the InvoicePlane system. The predictable nature of the tokens means that automated attack tools can efficiently generate valid reset URLs, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors. This weakness also exposes the system to account takeover scenarios where unauthorized individuals can assume legitimate user identities, potentially leading to data breaches, financial fraud, and compromise of business operations. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system by enabling unauthorized access and potential data manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust rate-limiting controls at multiple layers of the authentication system. The immediate solution requires the implementation of strong cryptographic random number generation for reset token creation, ensuring that tokens are sufficiently long and unpredictable to prevent successful guessing attempts. Organizations should deploy rate-limiting mechanisms that restrict the number of password reset requests per user account, IP address, or session within a given time window. Additionally, implementing account lockout mechanisms after multiple failed reset attempts and monitoring for suspicious activity patterns can help detect and prevent abuse of the password reset functionality. The remediation should also include logging and alerting capabilities to detect potential abuse of the password recovery system, aligning with best practices from the mitre ATT&CK framework for credential access and privilege escalation techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication to provide defense in depth against account takeover attempts that exploit this vulnerability.