CVE-2021-40853 in GIM
Summary
by MITRE • 12/17/2021
TCMAN GIM does not perform an authorization check when trying to access determined resources. A remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to access URL that require privileges without having them. The exploitation of this vulnerability might allow a remote attacker to obtain sensible information.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2021
TCMAN GIM suffers from a critical authorization bypass vulnerability that fundamentally undermines its access control mechanisms. This flaw exists within the application's resource management system where proper authentication and authorization checks are not enforced when processing requests for specific URLs. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control implementation that allows unauthenticated or unauthorized users to traverse the application's security boundaries. According to CWE-285, this represents an improper authorization issue where the system fails to verify that the requesting entity has sufficient privileges to access the requested resource. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes requests for protected resources without performing the necessary authorization checks that should validate user credentials and privilege levels before granting access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability enables remote attackers to bypass the intended access controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information and functionality. Attackers can construct malicious requests that target specific URLs requiring elevated privileges, effectively circumventing the application's built-in security mechanisms. This weakness creates a pathway for information disclosure attacks where adversaries can extract confidential data, system information, or administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can potentially enable further exploitation through privilege escalation or lateral movement within the affected system. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as it allows attackers to leverage legitimate access patterns to gain unauthorized privileges and information.
The operational implications of this vulnerability are severe and far-reaching for organizations relying on TCMAN GIM for their security operations. System administrators and security personnel may be unaware of unauthorized access attempts, leading to potential data breaches and compliance violations. The vulnerability can result in exposure of sensitive operational data, configuration information, or system internals that could be used for additional attacks against the broader network infrastructure. Organizations may face regulatory penalties and loss of customer trust if sensitive information is compromised through this authorization bypass. The vulnerability also increases the attack surface for potential lateral movement attacks, as compromised access could provide footholds for more extensive infiltration attempts. Security monitoring systems may fail to detect these unauthorized access patterns since they appear to originate from legitimate user accounts, making detection more challenging.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust authorization controls and access validation mechanisms throughout the application. Organizations must ensure that all resource access requests undergo proper authentication and authorization checks before granting access to protected resources. The implementation of role-based access control (RBAC) and principle of least privilege should be enforced to limit access to only necessary functionality. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar authorization flaws. Code reviews and secure coding practices should emphasize proper access control implementation, particularly around URL routing and resource access validation. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive logging and monitoring of access attempts to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The fix should include mandatory authorization verification at all entry points where sensitive resources are accessed, ensuring that no bypass paths exist within the application's security architecture.