CVE-2023-35854 in ADSelfService Plus
Summary
by MITRE • 06/20/2023
Zoho ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus through 6113 has an authentication bypass that can be exploited to steal the domain controller session token for identity spoofing, thereby achieving the privileges of the domain controller administrator.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-35854 affects Zoho ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus version 6113 and earlier, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that fundamentally compromises the security posture of affected systems. This vulnerability resides within the application's session management mechanisms and allows attackers to exploit a weakness in the authentication flow to obtain domain controller session tokens. The flaw enables unauthorized individuals to impersonate domain controller administrators and gain elevated privileges within the targeted environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate session validation and token handling within the ADSelfService Plus application. Attackers can leverage this flaw to manipulate the authentication process and extract valid session tokens that correspond to domain controller administrator accounts. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's ability to properly verify user credentials and maintain secure session states, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks. This authentication bypass occurs at the application layer where proper access controls should prevent unauthorized token acquisition and session manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-35854 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to achieve full administrative control over domain controller environments. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can assume the identity of the domain controller administrator and execute arbitrary commands with the highest level of privileges. This capability allows for comprehensive lateral movement within the network, credential theft, and persistent access to critical infrastructure components. The vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor into the most privileged accounts within Active Directory environments, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise security.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and aligns with ATT&CK techniques such as T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access. The flaw represents a significant weakness in the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate security controls around session management and token validation. Organizations utilizing affected versions of ADSelfService Plus face substantial risk of data breaches, insider threat exploitation, and complete compromise of their Active Directory infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-35854 require immediate action including upgrading to the patched version of Zoho ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the application, and strengthening monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts and implement enhanced logging of session management activities. Additional protective measures include enforcing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, implementing strict access controls, and establishing continuous monitoring for unauthorized token usage patterns. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure rapid detection and remediation of similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities.