CVE-2021-40172 in Log360
Summary
by MITRE • 08/30/2021
Zoho ManageEngine Log360 before Build 5219 allows a CSRF attack on proxy settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-40172 affects Zoho ManageEngine Log360 software prior to Build 5219 and represents a cross-site request forgery flaw that specifically targets the proxy configuration settings within the application. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-352, which defines cross-site request forgery as a security weakness where an attacker can trick a victim into performing actions they did not intend to execute within the context of an authenticated session. The affected system operates as a centralized log management and security information and event management solution, making the potential impact of this CSRF vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on its security monitoring capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious web page or email attachment that, when visited or opened by an authenticated user, automatically submits a request to modify the proxy settings within the Log360 application. Since the user is already authenticated, the application processes the request without additional verification, effectively allowing unauthorized changes to the system's network configuration. The flaw stems from the application's failure to implement proper anti-CSRF tokens or other validation mechanisms for critical administrative operations such as proxy configuration changes. This vulnerability specifically targets the proxy settings functionality, which could potentially redirect network traffic through malicious endpoints, enabling man-in-the-middle attacks or data exfiltration.
The operational impact of this CSRF vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes and could severely compromise an organization's security posture. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could redirect all network traffic through a malicious proxy server they control, potentially intercepting sensitive data, credentials, or communications flowing through the Log360 system. This compromise could also affect the integrity of log data collection and analysis processes, as the attacker might be able to manipulate how logs are collected or forwarded to other systems. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Log360 serves as a central security monitoring tool, as it could provide attackers with a persistent backdoor or facilitate lateral movement within the network infrastructure. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol: DNS and T1566 for credential access through social engineering or manipulation of network traffic.
Organizations should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to protect against exploitation of this CSRF vulnerability. The primary mitigation involves applying the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to Build 5219 or later versions where the CSRF protection mechanisms have been properly implemented. Additionally, network administrators should review and implement proper access controls and authentication measures, including multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper CSRF token validation should be enforced across all administrative interfaces. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual proxy configuration changes or unauthorized modifications to network settings. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their web applications and implement web application firewalls to detect and prevent malicious CSRF attack patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating all administrative operations and implementing proper session management controls to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical system configurations.