CVE-2023-46236 in fogproject
Summary
by MITRE • 10/31/2023
FOG is a free open-source cloning/imaging/rescue suite/inventory management system. Prior to version 1.5.10, a server-side-request-forgery (SSRF) vulnerability allowed an unauthenticated user to trigger a GET request as the server to an arbitrary endpoint and URL scheme. This also allows remote access to files visible to the Apache user group. Other impacts vary based on server configuration. Version 1.5.10 contains a patch.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2023
The FOG Project represents a comprehensive open-source solution for system imaging, cloning, and inventory management that has been widely adopted in enterprise and educational environments. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 1.5.10, where a critical server-side request forgery flaw was discovered that fundamentally undermines the system's security posture. The vulnerability exists within the application's handling of user-supplied input that is processed without adequate validation or sanitization, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the server's behavior. The flaw specifically allows unauthenticated attackers to construct and execute GET requests from the server's perspective to arbitrary destinations, effectively bypassing normal access controls and network segmentation measures that typically protect internal systems.
The technical implementation of this SSRF vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the application's request processing pipeline. When user-provided data is directly incorporated into HTTP requests without proper sanitization or destination validation, attackers can exploit this weakness to make requests to internal services, file systems, or other network resources that would normally be inaccessible from the external network. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it allows attackers to access files that are visible to the Apache user group, potentially exposing sensitive configuration files, database credentials, or other system artifacts. This access can be particularly devastating in environments where the web server process has elevated privileges or access to internal network resources. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its unauthenticated nature, meaning that any external attacker can exploit it without requiring valid credentials, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation campaigns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on FOG for system management and imaging operations. Attackers can leverage this flaw to map internal network topologies, discover internal services, and potentially escalate privileges by accessing sensitive system files or configuration data. The vulnerability's ability to access files visible to the Apache user group creates opportunities for credential theft, privilege escalation, and further lateral movement within compromised networks. Depending on the server configuration and network architecture, this vulnerability could enable attackers to access databases, configuration files, or other sensitive data that the web server process can read. The vulnerability also poses risks to internal system integrity, as attackers could potentially access and modify system files or configuration settings that control the behavior of the imaging and inventory management functions. Organizations using older versions of FOG face increased risk of data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized access to their managed computing environments.
The remediation for this vulnerability requires immediate deployment of version 1.5.10 or later, which includes patches addressing the input validation issues that enabled the SSRF attack. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their FOG installations to identify any potential exploitation that may have occurred before patching. Network segmentation measures should be reviewed to ensure that the web server process has minimal access to internal systems and that appropriate firewall rules are in place to limit access to sensitive resources. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-918, which specifically addresses server-side request forgery vulnerabilities, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in web application security. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities and T1071.004 for application layer protocols, demonstrating how a single security flaw can enable multiple attack vectors. Security teams should implement monitoring for unusual outbound network requests from the FOG server and consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against similar vulnerabilities. The patch provided in version 1.5.10 addresses the root cause by implementing proper input validation and ensuring that all external requests are properly sanitized before being processed by the server.