CVE-2023-2979 in Pydio Cells
Summary
by MITRE • 05/30/2023
A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Abstrium Pydio Cells 4.2.0. This affects an unknown part of the component User Creation Handler. The manipulation leads to improper access controls. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. Upgrading to version 4.2.1 is able to address this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-230211.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2979 represents a critical access control flaw within Abstrium Pydio Cells 4.2.0, specifically affecting the User Creation Handler component. This issue stems from inadequate authorization checks during user account creation processes, creating a significant security gap that allows unauthorized individuals to manipulate user creation workflows. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates its potential for severe impact on system security and data integrity, particularly given that it can be exploited remotely without requiring local system access. The affected User Creation Handler component serves as a crucial interface for managing user accounts within the Pydio Cells platform, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could enable attackers to create privileged accounts or manipulate existing user permissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper validation of user privileges during the account creation process, which allows attackers to bypass normal access controls that should restrict who can create or modify user accounts. This flaw typically manifests when the system fails to properly authenticate or authorize requests made to the user creation endpoints, potentially allowing unauthenticated or low-privileged users to submit requests that would normally require administrative privileges. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can leverage this vulnerability from outside the network perimeter, making it particularly concerning for organizations that expose their Pydio Cells installations to external networks. The vulnerability's presence in the User Creation Handler component suggests that the authentication and authorization mechanisms within this specific module are insufficient to prevent unauthorized access to user management functions.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-2979 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to establish persistent access points within the system through the creation of new user accounts with elevated privileges. This could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or disruption of services, particularly if attackers can create accounts with administrative capabilities. Organizations utilizing Pydio Cells for document management and collaboration may face significant risks including unauthorized access to sensitive files, modification of user permissions, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that organizations may be exposed to attacks from anywhere on the internet, without requiring physical access to the network or system infrastructure. This threat landscape aligns with common attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework where adversaries seek to establish persistence and escalate privileges through compromised user management systems.
Security practitioners should prioritize immediate remediation through the recommended upgrade to Pydio Cells version 4.2.1, which addresses this specific access control vulnerability. The upgrade process should be carefully planned to minimize operational disruption while ensuring complete protection against this threat. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring measures to detect potential exploitation attempts, including reviewing user creation logs and monitoring for unusual account creation patterns. The vulnerability's classification as a critical issue places it within the scope of standards such as CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and may be related to broader categories of privilege escalation vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be reviewed to limit access to the affected components, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other parts of the system. The remediation process should also include verification that the upgrade was successful and that no additional access control mechanisms were inadvertently compromised during the update procedure.