CVE-2021-38457 in Versiondog
Summary
by MITRE • 10/22/2021
The server permits communication without any authentication procedure, allowing the attacker to initiate a session with the server without providing any form of authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/29/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that fundamentally undermines the security posture of affected systems. The issue stems from a design flaw in the server implementation where the authentication mechanism has been completely omitted or disabled, creating an unauthenticated access point that allows any remote attacker to establish sessions without proper credential verification. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-305 authentication bypass category and directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. The absence of authentication procedures creates an open door for malicious actors to exploit the service regardless of their identity or authorization status, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where sensitive data and resources are at stake.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability is straightforward and requires minimal skill level from attackers. Any network traffic directed toward the affected server can establish a session without presenting valid credentials, username, or password. This flaw operates at the protocol level where authentication checks are either entirely missing or have been bypassed through improper configuration or coding errors. The vulnerability can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, as attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to systems. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within the network infrastructure.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe and multifaceted. Organizations with unauthenticated server access face immediate risks including data breaches, system compromise, and potential regulatory violations. The vulnerability can be exploited by automated scanning tools and bots that continuously probe for such weaknesses, making the affected systems prime targets for widespread exploitation. Network security monitoring systems may not immediately detect this type of attack since it appears as legitimate traffic without authentication attempts. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of system resources, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must be implemented immediately and comprehensively. The primary remediation involves enforcing proper authentication mechanisms at all levels of the server implementation, including requiring valid credentials before establishing any session. Organizations should implement strong authentication protocols such as multi-factor authentication, certificate-based authentication, or robust username/password systems with proper credential validation. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be configured to restrict access to the affected server to only authorized networks and IP addresses. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities throughout the infrastructure. The implementation of proper logging and monitoring mechanisms is essential to detect unauthorized access attempts and provide audit trails for security investigations. Additionally, security patches and updates should be applied promptly to address any known vulnerabilities in server software components and ensure that authentication mechanisms are properly configured and functioning as intended.