CVE-2022-24581 in ACEweb Online Portal
Summary
by MITRE • 06/02/2022
ACEweb Online Portal 3.5.065 allows unauthenticated SMB hash capture via UNC. By specifying the UNC file path of an external SMB share when uploading a file, an attacker can induce the victim server to disclose the username and password hash of the user executing the ACEweb Online software.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2022
CVE-2022-24581 represents a critical server-side request forgery vulnerability affecting ACEweb Online Portal version 3.5.065. This flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to capture SMB hash credentials through maliciously crafted Universal Naming Convention paths during file upload operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and path resolution mechanisms within the file handling functionality of the web portal. When users attempt to upload files, the system processes UNC paths without proper authentication verification, creating an attack vector where remote adversaries can manipulate the target server into establishing connections to attacker-controlled SMB shares. The technical implementation exploits the inherent trust relationships within Windows networking protocols, allowing the exploitation of the victim server's credentials during the file upload process. This weakness aligns with CWE-601 and falls under the ATT&CK technique T1187 for Forced Authentication, where attackers leverage legitimate network protocols to extract sensitive authentication data. The operational impact is severe as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, lateral movement within network environments, and unauthorized access to sensitive data repositories. Attackers can leverage captured hashes for privilege escalation, credential dumping, and persistent access to enterprise networks. The vulnerability affects organizations using ACEweb Online Portal in environments where SMB protocols are accessible, particularly those with default or weak credential configurations. Organizations relying on this software for document management, file sharing, or collaboration platforms face significant risk exposure. The attack requires minimal privileges and can be executed remotely, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the web portal serves as a gateway to internal systems. Mitigation strategies include implementing strict input validation for UNC paths, disabling unnecessary SMB protocol support, restricting file upload functionality to authenticated users only, and configuring network segmentation to limit access to SMB shares. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious SMB connection patterns, and security awareness training should be conducted to prevent social engineering attacks that might accompany such exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting controls and disabling legacy authentication protocols where possible. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating external resource references in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security controls around file handling operations. Regular vulnerability assessments and security updates should be prioritized to address similar weaknesses in related software components. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure rapid detection and remediation of credential harvesting attempts. The attack vector represents a classic example of how network protocol trust relationships can be exploited to bypass traditional authentication mechanisms, emphasizing the necessity of defense-in-depth strategies that protect against both direct and indirect authentication bypass attacks.