CVE-2022-45929 in Mender
Summary
by MITRE • 06/20/2024
Northern.tech Mender 3.3.x before 3.3.2, 3.5.x before 3.5.0, and 3.6.x before 3.6.0 has Incorrect Access Control and allows users to change their roles and could allow privilege escalation from a low-privileged read-only user to a high-privileged user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-45929 affects Northern.tech Mender versions prior to specific patch releases, creating a critical access control flaw that enables unauthorized privilege escalation. This issue resides within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the Mender device management platform, which is widely used for managing IoT devices and edge computing infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions 3.3.x before 3.3.2, 3.5.x before 3.5.0, and 3.6.x before 3.6.0, representing a significant portion of the Mender ecosystem that organizations rely upon for secure device management.
The technical flaw manifests as an incorrect access control implementation that allows authenticated users to manipulate their own roles within the system. This particular weakness stems from insufficient validation of role change requests and inadequate authorization checks during privilege modification operations. When a low-privileged read-only user attempts to modify their own access rights, the system fails to properly verify whether such changes are permitted, creating a pathway for unauthorized elevation of privileges. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and represents a classic case of insufficient access control validation. This flaw operates at the application level and specifically targets the user role management functionality, bypassing the normal access control enforcement mechanisms that should prevent users from modifying their own permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations utilizing Mender for device management, particularly in environments where security is paramount. A malicious actor with access to a read-only user account could exploit this vulnerability to gain administrative privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation as it could enable attackers to modify device configurations, access sensitive data, install malicious software, or disrupt device operations. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and could be leveraged in supply chain attacks or insider threat scenarios where attackers have initial access to low-privileged accounts. The impact is particularly concerning in industrial IoT environments where Mender is commonly deployed for critical infrastructure management, as it could lead to operational technology disruptions and potential safety hazards. The vulnerability also affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire device management ecosystem, as unauthorized administrative access could allow attackers to manipulate device fleets and access data from multiple connected devices.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including applying the patched versions of Mender software, specifically versions 3.3.2, 3.5.0, and 3.6.0 respectively. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of user roles and access permissions to identify any potential exploitation attempts. The mitigation strategy should include implementing additional monitoring for role change requests and establishing automated alerts for suspicious privilege modifications. Security teams should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can detect and respond to potential exploitation of this vulnerability. Organizations using Mender should consider implementing network segmentation and additional access controls to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation and the need for thorough security testing of authentication mechanisms. This flaw also highlights the critical nature of maintaining up-to-date software versions and the potential consequences of delayed patch deployment in security-critical systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1078 adversary technique for valid accounts and T1548 for abuse of privileges, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing comprehensive security frameworks.