CVE-2022-0730 in Cacti
Summary
by MITRE • 03/04/2022
Under certain ldap conditions, Cacti authentication can be bypassed with certain credential types.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0730 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the Cacti network monitoring platform that specifically affects LDAP authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability arises from improper handling of certain credential types during the LDAP binding process, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to the system. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates under specific ldap conditions that may not be immediately apparent to administrators, potentially allowing attackers to gain administrative privileges without proper authentication. The vulnerability demonstrates a weakness in the authentication flow where the system fails to properly validate credential integrity when certain LDAP credential formats are presented.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and credential processing within the LDAP authentication module of Cacti. When specific credential types are submitted through the LDAP interface, the system's authentication logic fails to properly sanitize or verify these inputs, resulting in a scenario where malformed or specially crafted credentials can be accepted as valid. This behavior aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper handling of authentication tokens and credentials, specifically targeting weaknesses in authentication mechanisms that allow for credential bypass. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of authentication logic and input validation, where the system's trust model is exploited through carefully constructed credential data that circumvents normal authentication checks.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0730 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain full administrative control over the Cacti monitoring infrastructure. This compromise could lead to complete network visibility, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the network environment. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on LDAP integration for user management, particularly those with complex authentication setups where the specific credential conditions required for exploitation might be present in legitimate user workflows. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access points within network monitoring systems, potentially remaining undetected while collecting sensitive operational data from the monitored infrastructure.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Cacti that address the LDAP credential validation issues, reviewing and tightening LDAP configuration parameters, and implementing additional authentication layers such as multi-factor authentication. Network segmentation and monitoring of authentication attempts should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation in authentication systems and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and legitimate credential use for persistence and access. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their LDAP integration points and implement principle of least privilege access controls to minimize potential impact if exploitation occurs. Additionally, regular security testing and vulnerability scanning should include specific checks for authentication bypass conditions in LDAP environments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining undetected in production systems.