CVE-2023-47294 in Terminal Handler
Summary
by MITRE • 06/23/2025
An issue in NCR Terminal Handler v1.5.1 allows low-level privileged authenticated attackers to arbitrarily deactivate, lock, and delete user accounts via a crafted session cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-47294 resides within the NCR Terminal Handler version 1.5.1 software, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of terminal management systems. This issue affects the authentication and session management mechanisms of the software, creating a pathway for attackers with minimal privileges to execute dangerous account manipulation operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the session cookie implementation, which serves as the primary means of maintaining user authentication state throughout the terminal handler interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of session cookies within the authentication framework of NCR Terminal Handler. Attackers with low-level privileged access can craft malicious session tokens that bypass normal authorization checks, enabling them to perform administrative functions typically restricted to higher-privileged users. This flaw allows unauthorized account manipulation including deactivation, locking, and deletion of user accounts, effectively compromising the integrity of the user access control system. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient session management and privilege escalation, where the software fails to properly verify the authenticity and authorization level of session tokens before executing sensitive operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account manipulation, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for extended unauthorized access and system compromise. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can effectively neutralize legitimate user accounts, lock out authorized personnel, or delete critical user profiles that may contain important system access credentials or configuration data. The implications are particularly severe in terminal handler environments where multiple users may require different levels of access control, as this vulnerability enables a single compromised low-privileged account to potentially disrupt the entire system's user management infrastructure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-306, which addresses missing authentication for critical functions, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in system security design. The flaw also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts used for lateral movement and privilege escalation. Organizations utilizing NCR Terminal Handler v1.5.1 should implement immediate mitigations including enhanced session token validation, proper authorization checks for all administrative functions, and comprehensive monitoring of account manipulation activities. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes to prevent similar issues in critical infrastructure systems.
The remediation approach should focus on strengthening the session management framework to ensure that all session cookies undergo rigorous authentication verification before any administrative operations are permitted. This includes implementing proper session token regeneration, establishing robust authorization boundaries, and deploying comprehensive audit trails for all account-related activities. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication for critical system functions and regular security scanning of terminal management systems to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of their infrastructure.