CVE-2022-0406 in Calibre-Web
Summary
by MITRE • 04/03/2022
Improper Authorization in GitHub repository janeczku/calibre-web prior to 0.6.16.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0406 represents a critical improper authorization flaw within the janeczku/calibre-web repository management system. This issue affects versions prior to 0.6.16 and stems from inadequate access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to bypass authentication protocols. The calibre-web application serves as a web-based interface for managing digital book collections, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on proper access controls to protect their digital libraries and associated metadata.
The technical implementation of this authorization flaw manifests through insufficient validation of user permissions and session management within the application's authentication framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain elevated privileges or access restricted functionalities without proper authentication credentials. The vulnerability likely resides in the application's user role management system where administrative functions remain accessible to unauthenticated users or where privilege escalation paths exist due to flawed authorization logic. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-285, which specifically addresses improper authorization within software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, content manipulation, and system compromise within affected environments. Organizations utilizing calibre-web for managing sensitive digital collections face risks of unauthorized modification of book metadata, deletion of library contents, or access to administrative functions that could lead to further system exploitation. The vulnerability's persistence in versions prior to 0.6.16 indicates that the developers failed to implement proper access control checks during the application's development lifecycle, creating a persistent security risk for all users running affected versions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-0406 primarily involve immediate upgrade to version 0.6.16 or later, which includes the necessary authorization fixes and access control improvements. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the calibre-web application, enforce strong authentication measures including multi-factor authentication, and conduct regular security assessments of their digital library management systems. Additionally, implementing proper monitoring and logging of access attempts can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The fix likely addresses the core authorization logic by ensuring proper validation of user credentials and session tokens before granting access to restricted functionalities, aligning with industry best practices for secure application development as outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards for access control management.