CVE-2023-4650 in icms2
Summary
by MITRE • 08/31/2023
Improper Access Control in GitHub repository instantsoft/icms2 prior to 2.16.1-git.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2023
The vulnerability identified in the GitHub repository instantsoft/icms2 prior to version 2.16.1-git represents a critical improper access control flaw that could enable unauthorized users to gain elevated privileges and access restricted functionality within the application. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms, making it a fundamental security weakness in the software's authorization system. The issue stems from insufficient validation of user permissions and roles during critical operations, allowing malicious actors to bypass normal authentication checks and potentially execute administrative functions without proper authorization.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in how the application handles user session management and privilege verification within its content management system framework. When users attempt to perform actions that require specific permission levels, the system fails to adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary credentials or role assignments. This weakness can be exploited through various attack vectors including direct parameter manipulation, session hijacking, or by leveraging existing authenticated sessions with lower privileges to escalate access rights. The vulnerability particularly affects administrative functions such as user management, content modification, and system configuration changes that should be restricted to authorized administrators only.
The operational impact of this improper access control vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially compromise the entire application infrastructure and its associated data. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw could gain full administrative control over the CMS instance, allowing them to modify or delete content, create new user accounts with elevated privileges, manipulate database records, and potentially install malicious code within the application environment. This risk is compounded by the fact that many content management systems store sensitive information including user credentials, business data, and system configurations that could be accessed or altered by unauthorized parties. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate application functionality but also poses risks to downstream systems that may rely on the CMS for authentication or data services.
Mitigation strategies for this access control vulnerability should implement comprehensive authorization checks at every layer of the application architecture including input validation, session management, and role-based access controls. Organizations should immediately upgrade to version 2.16.1-git or later which includes proper access control mechanisms and permission validation routines. Additional defensive measures include implementing robust authentication protocols with multi-factor authentication, regular security audits of access control implementations, and monitoring for suspicious access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also involve code reviews focused on CWE-284 compliance, ensuring that all privileged operations require proper authorization checks before execution. Security teams must establish continuous monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain updated threat intelligence regarding similar access control vulnerabilities in web applications.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and legitimate credentials for unauthorized access. The issue highlights the necessity of following security best practices such as principle of least privilege, defense in depth strategies, and regular penetration testing to identify and remediate authorization flaws before they can be exploited by adversaries in the wild. Organizations using this CMS should conduct thorough risk assessments to determine if any unauthorized access has occurred and implement comprehensive incident response procedures to address potential exploitation of this vulnerability.