CVE-2023-4102 in QSige
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
QSige login SSO does not have an access control mechanism to verify whether the user requesting a resource has sufficient permissions to do so. As a prerequisite, it is necessary to log into the application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/25/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2023-4102 represents a critical access control flaw within the QSige login SSO implementation that fundamentally undermines the security posture of the affected system. This issue resides in the Single Sign-On authentication mechanism where the system fails to properly validate user permissions when accessing protected resources, creating a dangerous privilege escalation vector that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing authorization check within the SSO framework, where the system authenticates users but does not subsequently verify whether those authenticated users possess the necessary permissions to access specific resources. This creates a scenario where any authenticated user can potentially access resources they should not be authorized to reach, effectively bypassing the intended access control policies. The vulnerability operates at the application level and represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks, which maps directly to CWE-285: Improper Authorization. The flaw exists regardless of the authentication method used, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by both legitimate and malicious users who have gained initial access through other means.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally compromises the principle of least privilege that forms the cornerstone of secure system design. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain access to sensitive data, perform unauthorized transactions, modify critical system components, or even escalate their privileges to administrative levels depending on the scope of the affected resources. The fact that this vulnerability requires only a login to exploit makes it particularly dangerous, as it can be leveraged by attackers who have obtained legitimate credentials through various means such as credential theft, social engineering, or other initial compromise techniques. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078: Valid Accounts, which describes how adversaries can leverage legitimate credentials to gain access to systems and resources. The impact is further amplified when considering that SSO systems typically serve as central points of access to multiple applications and resources, meaning a single successful exploitation can provide access to an entire ecosystem of interconnected systems.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including the deployment of proper authorization checks at all access points, implementation of role-based access control mechanisms, and the introduction of session management controls that verify user permissions for each resource request. The remediation process should involve comprehensive code reviews to ensure that all resource access points properly validate user permissions, implementation of centralized authorization services, and the establishment of audit logging to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough penetration testing to identify all potential access control bypass scenarios and implement proper security training for developers to prevent similar issues in future implementations. The vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of implementing defense-in-depth security measures that go beyond basic authentication to include robust authorization controls.