CVE-2023-0822 in DIAEnergie
Summary
by MITRE • 02/17/2023
The affected product DIAEnergie (versions prior to v1.9.03.001) contains improper authorization, which could allow an unauthorized user to bypass authorization and access privileged functionality.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/18/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0822 affects the DIAEnergie product line, specifically versions prior to v1.9.03.001, presenting a critical improper authorization flaw that fundamentally undermines the system's security posture. This weakness resides in the product's access control mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent intended security restrictions and gain unauthorized access to privileged system functionalities. The issue represents a significant departure from proper authorization protocols, where legitimate users should be required to authenticate and authorize before accessing restricted resources, yet this vulnerability allows unauthorized entities to bypass these essential security checks. The affected system likely employs a role-based access control model or similar authorization framework that has been compromised through inadequate validation of user credentials or session tokens.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions within the DIAEnergie application, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate authorization checks through various means such as parameter manipulation, session hijacking, or exploiting insecure direct object references. This flaw aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization within software systems, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all privileged access controls. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks where an unauthenticated user could gain administrative capabilities within the system. Attackers leveraging this weakness might exploit the authorization bypass to modify critical system configurations, access sensitive data, or perform operations that should only be available to authorized administrators, fundamentally compromising the integrity and confidentiality of the affected environment.
The operational implications of CVE-2023-0822 are severe and multifaceted, as unauthorized access to privileged functionality can lead to complete system compromise and data breaches. Organizations utilizing affected DIAEnergie versions face significant risks including unauthorized modification of energy management systems, potential disruption of critical infrastructure operations, and exposure of sensitive operational data. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that could be exploited by both external attackers seeking to infiltrate the system and internal malicious actors with legitimate access who wish to escalate their privileges. This weakness directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics, where adversaries attempt to gain higher-level permissions and maintain persistent access to target systems. The extended impact includes potential regulatory compliance violations, financial losses due to operational disruption, and reputational damage from security incidents.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0822 must prioritize immediate remediation through the deployment of the patched version v1.9.03.001 or later, which addresses the improper authorization implementation through proper access control validation mechanisms. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement additional monitoring controls around privileged access activities. The implementation of robust session management, proper input validation, and multi-factor authentication mechanisms should be enforced to strengthen overall access control. Security teams must also establish continuous monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized access attempts and ensure that all system components maintain proper authorization checks. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation, regular security audits, and maintaining detailed access logs for forensic analysis. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege more strictly, ensuring that users only have access to the minimum required functionality necessary for their operational roles, thereby limiting the potential impact of any remaining authorization weaknesses.