CVE-2022-23173 in Priority
Summary
by MITRE • 07/06/2022
this vulnerability affect user that even not allowed to access via the web interface. First of all, the attacker needs to access the "Login menu - demo site" then he can see in this menu all the functionality of the application. If the attacker will try to click on one of the links, he will get an answer that he is not authorized because he needs to log in with credentials. after he performed log in to the system there are some functionalities that the specific user is not allowed to perform because he was configured with low privileges however all the attacker need to do in order to achieve his goals is to change the value of the prog step parameter from 0 to 1 or more and then the attacker could access to some of the functionality the web application that he couldn't perform it before the parameter changed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical authorization bypass flaw that undermines the application's access control mechanisms, specifically targeting the program step parameter validation. The vulnerability exists within the web application's privilege escalation logic where users with restricted access can manipulate the prog step parameter value from 0 to 1 or higher to gain unauthorized access to restricted functionalities. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization issues, and falls under the ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1548 for abuse of privileges. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to bypass authentication checks even when they are not permitted to access the web interface through normal means, demonstrating a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the application's failure to properly validate user permissions during program execution flow. When users attempt to access restricted functionality through the login menu, the application correctly identifies unauthorized access attempts but fails to enforce proper parameter validation at runtime. The prog step parameter serves as a critical access control mechanism that should prevent privilege escalation, yet attackers can manipulate this parameter to transition between different program states that should remain restricted. This represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference where the parameter acts as a direct reference to program functionality that should be protected by proper authorization controls. The vulnerability demonstrates a lack of proper input validation and access control enforcement at the application logic level.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially enable attackers to perform actions that could compromise system integrity and data confidentiality. Once an attacker successfully manipulates the prog step parameter, they can access functionalities that were specifically designed to be available only to users with higher privileges, potentially allowing for data manipulation, system configuration changes, or access to sensitive information. This vulnerability can be exploited in conjunction with other attack vectors to escalate privileges and gain deeper access to the system. The impact is particularly severe because it requires minimal technical skill to exploit, making it attractive to attackers who may not have advanced penetration testing capabilities, and it can be easily automated to target multiple users with different privilege levels.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust parameter validation and access control enforcement throughout the application's execution flow. The application must validate the prog step parameter against the authenticated user's privileges at runtime and reject any attempts to access restricted functionality through parameter manipulation. This includes implementing proper input sanitization, using server-side access control checks, and ensuring that all program state transitions require proper authorization validation. Organizations should also implement proper logging and monitoring to detect unauthorized parameter manipulation attempts. The solution aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the need for proper access control mechanisms and input validation. Additionally, implementing role-based access control with proper authorization checks at each program step would prevent attackers from bypassing security controls through simple parameter manipulation.