CVE-2021-44848 in Thinfinity VirtualUI
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2021
In Cibele Thinfinity VirtualUI before 3.0, /changePassword returns different responses for invalid authentication requests depending on whether the username exists.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-44848 resides within the Cibele Thinfinity VirtualUI software version 3.0 and earlier, presenting a significant information disclosure risk through its authentication mechanism. This flaw manifests in the /changePassword endpoint which exhibits inconsistent response behavior when processing authentication requests with invalid credentials. The system's response varies depending on whether the attempted username exists within its user database, creating a potential avenue for account enumeration attacks that could compromise the security posture of the affected environment.
This technical vulnerability represents a classic case of information leakage through error response discrimination, falling under the category of improper error handling as defined by CWE-209. The inconsistent responses provide attackers with valuable information about the existence of specific user accounts within the system, effectively enabling account enumeration techniques that bypass traditional security controls. The flaw directly violates principles of secure authentication design where systems should provide uniform responses regardless of whether the username exists, thus preventing attackers from distinguishing between non-existent accounts and invalid passwords.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates conditions ripe for targeted attacks including credential stuffing, brute force attempts, and account takeover operations. Attackers can systematically test usernames and passwords while leveraging the differential responses to identify valid accounts within the system, significantly reducing the complexity of subsequent attacks. This weakness particularly affects environments where user account management is critical and where the exposure of valid usernames could lead to cascading security issues across interconnected systems. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the authentication and session management components that form the foundation of secure access control mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-44848 should prioritize immediate software updates to version 3.0 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations must implement consistent error handling across all authentication endpoints to ensure that invalid authentication requests return identical responses regardless of account existence. This approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which focuses on valid accounts and emphasizes the importance of preventing information leakage through authentication mechanisms. Additional defensive measures include implementing rate limiting controls, monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in custom applications. Network segmentation and access controls should also be reviewed to limit the potential impact of successful enumeration attacks, while security awareness training for administrators can help prevent exploitation through social engineering or other indirect attack vectors.