CVE-2022-44574 in Avalanche
Summary
by MITRE • 03/11/2023
An improper authentication vulnerability exists in Avalanche version 6.3.x and below allows unauthenticated attacker to modify properties on specific port.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-44574 represents a critical authentication flaw within the Avalanche platform affecting versions 6.3.x and earlier. This issue stems from inadequate access controls that permit unauthorized actors to manipulate system properties through specific network ports without proper authentication. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor mechanism where malicious users can bypass normal authentication procedures and gain elevated privileges to modify critical system configurations.
This vulnerability falls under the broader category of weak authentication mechanisms and can be classified as CWE-287 which specifically addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The technical implementation appears to lack proper session management and access control checks at the network interface level where specific ports are exposed to unauthenticated connections. The affected port configuration allows attackers to send crafted requests that modify system properties directly, bypassing the normal authentication flow that should validate user credentials before permitting configuration changes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations utilizing Avalanche platforms in production environments. An unauthenticated attacker who gains access to the affected network ports can potentially modify critical system parameters, alter network configurations, or manipulate service behaviors without detection. The impact extends beyond simple configuration changes as these modifications can affect system stability, security posture, and overall operational integrity. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that remains active until the underlying authentication mechanism is properly patched or mitigated.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires minimal privileges to exploit, making it attractive to threat actors who seek to establish persistent access or cause operational disruption. Network reconnaissance activities can easily identify exposed ports, and the lack of authentication requirements means that even basic network scanning can reveal exploitable endpoints. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials for unauthorized access, though in this case the vulnerability itself enables access without requiring legitimate credentials.
Organizations should immediately implement network segmentation to restrict access to the affected ports, deploy firewall rules to limit access to authorized administrative networks, and ensure that all systems are updated to versions that address this authentication flaw. The remediation process should include thorough network audits to identify all instances of the vulnerable software, implementation of proper access controls, and deployment of monitoring solutions to detect unusual access patterns to the affected ports. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar authentication weaknesses in other network services and applications within their infrastructure.