CVE-2021-40101 in CMS
Summary
by MITRE • 11/30/2021
An issue was discovered in Concrete CMS before 8.5.7. The Dashboard allows a user's password to be changed without a prompt for the current password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-40101 affects Concrete CMS versions prior to 8.5.7 and represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that undermines the security model of the content management system. This issue resides within the administrative dashboard functionality where users can modify their own passwords without providing the current password confirmation. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and authentication checks within the password change endpoint, allowing unauthorized modification of user credentials through a simple web interface interaction. The vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and authentication integrity, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized access to user accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests as a missing validation step in the password modification workflow. When a user attempts to change their password through the dashboard interface, the system fails to require the current password as a verification mechanism before accepting the new password. This design flaw creates a condition where any authenticated user can modify any other user's password without proper authorization checks. The vulnerability is classified as a weakness in authentication mechanisms under CWE-305 and represents a failure in access control validation that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.101 for Valid Accounts. The flaw exists because the application does not properly validate that the user attempting to change a password is the legitimate owner of that account.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-40101 extends beyond simple credential compromise to encompass potential system-wide infiltration and data manipulation capabilities. An attacker who gains access to any user account can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges by changing administrator passwords, effectively taking complete control of the Concrete CMS installation. This vulnerability enables unauthorized users to bypass standard authentication protocols and can lead to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized content modification. The flaw particularly affects organizations relying on Concrete CMS for website management, as it allows attackers to maintain persistent access through password changes rather than requiring additional attack vectors. The vulnerability can be exploited through simple web browser interactions, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-40101 should prioritize immediate patching of Concrete CMS installations to version 8.5.7 or later, which includes the necessary authentication validation fixes. Organizations should implement additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication to provide defense-in-depth against credential compromise scenarios. Network segmentation and access control measures should be enforced to limit the potential impact of credential theft, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual password change activities. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of user access permissions and implement principle of least privilege controls to minimize the damage potential from compromised accounts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper authentication mechanisms and input validation in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where privilege escalation opportunities exist. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be maintained to identify similar authentication bypass opportunities in other systems and applications.