CVE-2022-1224 in phpipam
Summary
by MITRE • 04/04/2022
Improper Authorization in GitHub repository phpipam/phpipam prior to 1.4.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1224 represents a critical improper authorization flaw within the phpipam repository management system that affects versions prior to 1.4.6. This issue resides in the authentication and access control mechanisms of the phpipam network inventory management platform, which is widely used for IP address management and network documentation. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions and roles, allowing unauthorized individuals to bypass normal access controls and gain elevated privileges within the system. This flaw specifically impacts the authorization framework that governs user interactions with network data, configuration settings, and administrative functions. The phpipam platform serves as a critical component in network infrastructure management, making this authorization bypass particularly dangerous as it could enable attackers to manipulate network configurations, access sensitive IP address data, or perform administrative actions without proper credentials. The vulnerability creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks where malicious actors can exploit the flawed authorization logic to assume higher user roles or gain complete administrative control over the network inventory system.
The technical implementation of this improper authorization vulnerability occurs at the application layer where user session management and permission validation fail to properly enforce access controls. Attackers can leverage this weakness by manipulating authentication tokens, session identifiers, or API requests to bypass normal authorization checks that should validate user roles and permissions before granting access to restricted resources. The flaw likely manifests through insufficient input validation of user credentials, improper session handling, or inadequate role-based access control enforcement mechanisms within the phpipam codebase. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-285, which categorizes improper authorization issues in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials for unauthorized access. The vulnerability may also relate to CWE-306, which addresses missing authentication mechanisms, or CWE-284, which covers improper access control. The root cause often involves inadequate validation of user permissions during critical operations, allowing unauthenticated or low-privilege users to execute administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1224 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially catastrophic network security consequences. Organizations relying on phpipam for network inventory management face significant risks including unauthorized network configuration changes, exposure of sensitive IP address ranges, and potential data breaches involving critical network infrastructure information. The vulnerability could enable attackers to modify subnet configurations, manipulate IP address assignments, or access confidential network documentation that might reveal internal network topology and security measures. In enterprise environments where phpipam serves as a central repository for network information, this authorization bypass could facilitate further attacks by providing attackers with detailed knowledge of network segments, device configurations, and IP allocation patterns. The impact is particularly severe for organizations with limited network monitoring capabilities, as unauthorized modifications to IP address management could go undetected for extended periods, potentially leading to network disruptions, service outages, or compromised network security posture. Additionally, the vulnerability could enable attackers to establish persistent access points within the network infrastructure through manipulation of the IP management system.
Organizations should immediately implement comprehensive mitigation strategies to address this authorization vulnerability in their phpipam deployments. The primary and most effective remediation involves upgrading to phpipam version 1.4.6 or later, which contains the necessary authorization fixes and access control improvements. System administrators should also implement additional security controls including enhanced monitoring of administrative activities, implementation of network segmentation for phpipam systems, and regular audit of user access permissions and session activities. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious authentication patterns or unauthorized access attempts. Organizations should also review and strengthen their overall access control policies, ensuring that the principle of least privilege is enforced and that administrative functions require multi-factor authentication or additional verification steps. The mitigation approach should align with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 for access control requirements and follow ATT&CK framework guidance for detecting and preventing unauthorized access attempts. Regular security testing including penetration testing and automated vulnerability scanning should be conducted to verify that the authorization fixes are properly implemented and that no other related vulnerabilities exist within the phpipam deployment.