CVE-2022-36170 in IGServer
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2022
MapGIS 10.5 Pro IGServer has hardcoded credentials in the front-end and can lead to escalation of privileges and arbitrary file deletion.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-36170 affects MapGIS 10.5 Pro IGServer, a geographic information system software platform widely used in enterprise environments for mapping and spatial data management. This critical security flaw resides within the front-end components of the software, where hardcoded authentication credentials are embedded in the application code. The presence of such credentials represents a fundamental security misconfiguration that violates industry best practices for secure software development and configuration management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the inclusion of static username and password values within the client-side code or configuration files of the IGServer application. These hardcoded credentials are typically stored in source code repositories, configuration files, or embedded within the application binaries themselves. Attackers can exploit this weakness by extracting these credentials through various means including static code analysis, reverse engineering, or by examining network traffic patterns. The vulnerability specifically impacts the authentication mechanisms of the system, allowing unauthorized access to administrative functions that should normally require proper authentication.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-36170 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass significant privilege escalation capabilities and arbitrary file deletion operations. Once an attacker successfully exploits the hardcoded credentials, they can gain administrative access to the MapGIS IGServer environment. This elevated privilege level enables them to perform operations that include but are not limited to modifying system configurations, accessing sensitive spatial data repositories, creating or deleting arbitrary files within the server filesystem, and potentially establishing persistent backdoor access. The combination of privilege escalation and arbitrary file deletion capabilities makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where sensitive geographic data and infrastructure mapping information are stored.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hardcoded credentials in software applications, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices. The attack surface is further enhanced by the fact that these credentials are embedded in front-end components, making them more accessible to potential attackers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple techniques including credential access through hardcoded credentials and privilege escalation through administrative access. The exploitation of this weakness could also facilitate lateral movement within network environments where MapGIS systems are deployed, as attackers might use the compromised administrative credentials to access other systems or databases that share similar authentication mechanisms.
Organizations utilizing MapGIS 10.5 Pro IGServer should immediately implement mitigation strategies including the removal of hardcoded credentials from all front-end components, implementation of dynamic credential management systems, and comprehensive code reviews to identify any other instances of hardcoded sensitive information. The software vendors should provide security patches that eliminate the hardcoded credentials and implement proper authentication mechanisms with secure credential storage. Regular security assessments should be conducted to ensure that no similar vulnerabilities exist in other components of the system. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact of credential compromise, and monitoring systems should be deployed to detect unauthorized access attempts to administrative functions. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure development lifecycle practices and implementing proper credential management protocols to prevent such exposures in enterprise software systems.