CVE-2023-28022 in Connections
Summary
by MITRE • 12/16/2023
HCL Connections is vulnerable to an information disclosure vulnerability which could allow a user to obtain sensitive information they are not entitled to, caused by improper handling of request data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-28022 affects HCL Connections, a collaborative software platform that provides enterprise social networking capabilities. This information disclosure vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it allows unauthorized users to access sensitive data that should be restricted based on user permissions and access controls. The flaw manifests in the application's request data handling mechanisms, where insufficient validation and sanitization processes fail to properly enforce authorization boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of improper access control issues that can severely compromise the confidentiality of enterprise data assets.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of request data within the HCL Connections application framework. When users submit requests to the system, the application fails to adequately validate whether the requesting user has legitimate authorization to access the requested resources. This weakness creates an opportunity for attackers to manipulate request parameters or exploit gaps in the access control logic to bypass normal authorization checks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer where user permissions and data access controls should be rigorously enforced. According to CWE guidelines, this represents a variant of CWE-285, which deals with improper authorization in software applications, and more specifically aligns with CWE-200, concerning information exposure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage, as it can enable attackers to escalate their privileges and access confidential information across multiple user accounts and data repositories within the HCL Connections environment. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive business documents, personal user information, communication records, and other protected data that should only be available to authorized personnel. The consequences could include regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, reputational damage, and potential legal ramifications. Organizations relying on HCL Connections for enterprise collaboration may find their sensitive intellectual property and proprietary information at risk, particularly in regulated industries where data protection requirements are stringent.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and access control mechanisms throughout the application stack. Organizations should ensure that all request data is properly sanitized and validated before processing, with strict enforcement of user permissions and role-based access controls. The implementation of proper authorization checks at every point where data access occurs can prevent unauthorized information disclosure. Additionally, regular security testing including penetration testing and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in the application. According to ATT&CK framework categorization, this vulnerability maps to technique T1078 which involves valid accounts and privilege escalation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited using legitimate user credentials. Organizations should also implement comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect suspicious access patterns and unauthorized data access attempts, ensuring that any exploitation attempts are quickly identified and addressed through incident response procedures.