CVE-2023-4183 in Inventory Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2023
A vulnerability has been found in SourceCodester Inventory Management System 1.0 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the file edit_update.php of the component Password Handler. The manipulation of the argument user_id leads to improper access controls. The attack can be initiated remotely. VDB-236218 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4183 represents a critical access control flaw within the SourceCodester Inventory Management System version 1.0. This system, designed for inventory tracking and management, contains a security weakness that allows unauthorized users to manipulate administrative functions through improper validation of user identifiers. The vulnerability specifically resides in the edit_update.php file, which handles password management operations and serves as a potential entry point for privilege escalation attacks.
The technical flaw manifests through the improper handling of the user_id parameter within the password handler component. When an attacker manipulates this argument, the system fails to properly validate whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to modify another user's password or access restricted administrative functions. This weakness directly corresponds to CWE-285, which addresses improper access control issues, and falls under the broader category of authorization bypass vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's classification as remote indicates that attackers can exploit this flaw without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables potential attackers to escalate their privileges within the inventory management system. An attacker who successfully exploits this flaw could modify user credentials, access sensitive inventory data, or potentially gain administrative control over the entire system. This type of vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to system resources. The affected password handler component becomes a critical attack surface where unauthorized users can manipulate user accounts and potentially compromise the entire inventory database.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-4183 should prioritize immediate implementation of proper input validation and access control mechanisms within the edit_update.php file. The system must enforce strict authentication checks before allowing any password modification operations, ensuring that only authorized users can access or modify user account information. Additionally, implementing proper session management and role-based access controls would prevent unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. Organizations should also consider applying the vendor's official patch or upgrade to version 1.0.1 or later, as this vulnerability likely represents a known issue that has been addressed in subsequent releases. Regular security audits of web applications should include comprehensive testing of authentication and authorization mechanisms to identify similar flaws in other components of the inventory management system.