CVE-2022-42445 in Launch
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2022
HCL Launch could allow a user with administrative privileges, including "Manage Security" permissions, the ability to recover a credential previously saved for performing authenticated LDAP searches.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-42445 affects HCL Launch, a comprehensive application lifecycle management platform that enables organizations to automate and orchestrate complex deployment processes across various environments. This security flaw specifically targets the credential management functionality within the system, creating a significant risk for organizations that rely on LDAP authentication for their deployment workflows. The vulnerability exists in the way the platform handles credential storage and retrieval mechanisms, particularly when administrative users possess the critical "Manage Security" permission level. Organizations utilizing HCL Launch for enterprise deployment automation and continuous integration/continuous deployment pipelines are particularly at risk since this vulnerability could potentially expose sensitive authentication credentials used for accessing directory services and other critical infrastructure components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and credential recovery mechanisms within the HCL Launch platform. When administrative users with "Manage Security" permissions interact with the system's credential management features, they can exploit a flaw that allows them to recover previously saved credentials used for authenticated LDAP searches. This represents a privilege escalation vulnerability where elevated administrative rights are leveraged to access credential information that should remain protected. The underlying flaw likely involves inadequate input validation or insufficient authorization checks during credential recovery operations, allowing unauthorized access to stored authentication tokens and credentials. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the security management layer of the application, where administrative users already possess elevated privileges, but the flaw enables them to access additional credential information beyond their intended scope.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-42445 extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it creates potential pathways for lateral movement and persistent access within enterprise environments. When attackers can recover LDAP credentials, they gain the ability to authenticate to directory services and potentially access additional systems that rely on the same authentication infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access and privilege escalation domains, where adversaries seek to obtain credentials to maintain access to target systems. The exposure of LDAP credentials could enable attackers to perform unauthorized searches across directory services, potentially discovering additional users, groups, and system resources that would otherwise remain hidden. Organizations that depend on LDAP for user authentication and authorization across multiple systems face increased risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data and systems when this vulnerability is exploited.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate access control enforcement and credential management hardening within the HCL Launch platform. Organizations should implement principle of least privilege controls to ensure that administrative users with "Manage Security" permissions cannot access credential recovery mechanisms for other administrative functions. The platform should enforce stricter authorization checks during credential recovery operations, ensuring that users can only access credentials related to their specific administrative scope. Regular security audits of credential management features should be conducted to identify potential privilege escalation paths. Additionally, organizations should implement credential rotation policies and ensure that LDAP credentials used for authentication are regularly updated and monitored for unauthorized access. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation and aligns with CWE categories related to insufficient authorization and credential management flaws, emphasizing the need for robust security controls around privileged functions and sensitive data access within enterprise application platforms.