CVE-2022-27558 in iNotes
Summary
by MITRE • 08/29/2022
HCL iNotes is susceptible to a Broken Password Strength Checks vulnerability. Custom password policies are not enforced on certain iNotes forms which could allow users to set weak passwords, leading to easier cracking.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-27558 represents a critical weakness in HCL iNotes password validation mechanisms that directly impacts authentication security. This issue falls under the broader category of broken authentication controls and specifically aligns with CWE-521 Weak Password Requirements, where the system fails to enforce strong password policies. The vulnerability exists within the iNotes forms that handle password creation and modification, creating an attack surface where users can bypass established security controls designed to prevent weak credential creation.
The technical flaw manifests when custom password policies configured within the HCL iNotes environment are not consistently applied across all user-facing forms. This inconsistency creates a scenario where attackers can exploit the weakened validation checks to register or modify passwords using easily guessable combinations, short character lengths, or common dictionary words. The vulnerability essentially allows for credential stuffing attacks and brute force attempts that would otherwise be prevented by proper password strength enforcement mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly undermines the security posture of organizations relying on HCL iNotes for email and collaboration services. The impact extends beyond individual account compromise to potentially enable broader network infiltration, as weak passwords often serve as the initial entry point for lateral movement within corporate environments. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments, particularly when evaluating compliance with standards such as nist sp 800-63b which mandates strong authentication requirements.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects user-facing forms that are commonly accessed during account registration and password reset processes. Attackers can systematically exploit these weak validation points to create multiple accounts with weak credentials or modify existing accounts to use predictable passwords. This vulnerability also aligns with tactics described in the mitre ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation techniques, where adversaries seek to establish persistent access through weak authentication mechanisms.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive policy enforcement across all iNotes forms, regular security audits of authentication mechanisms, and implementation of multi-factor authentication to reduce the impact of compromised credentials. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security configuration management and the need for continuous monitoring of authentication controls to prevent similar issues in other enterprise applications. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing password policy enforcement mechanisms that operate at the application level rather than relying solely on form-based validation.