CVE-2023-49232 in Visual Planning
Summary
by MITRE • 03/29/2024
An authentication bypass vulnerability was found in Stilog Visual Planning 8. It allows an unauthenticated attacker to brute-force the password reset PINs of administrative users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-49232 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within Stilog Visual Planning 8 software, a business planning and visualization platform commonly used in enterprise environments. This vulnerability specifically targets the password reset mechanism, creating a pathway for unauthorized individuals to gain administrative access to systems without proper authentication credentials. The flaw exists in the implementation of the PIN-based password reset functionality, which should have provided an additional layer of security but instead became a vector for exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and rate limiting mechanisms within the password reset PIN generation and verification process. An attacker can systematically attempt multiple PIN combinations through brute-force methods, exploiting the lack of proper account lockout mechanisms or exponential backoff strategies that would normally prevent automated attacks. This weakness allows an unauthenticated attacker to enumerate valid PINs and ultimately gain administrative privileges, which could lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-305 authentication bypass weakness and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege, where unauthorized access is granted without proper verification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as administrative privileges in business planning systems often provide access to sensitive operational data, financial information, and business-critical planning resources. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially manipulate business forecasts, access confidential strategic information, or disrupt planning processes that are fundamental to organizational operations. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where Stilog Visual Planning 8 might be used for mission-critical business planning, financial modeling, or strategic decision-making processes. This vulnerability could also serve as a foothold for further lateral movement within networks, especially if the system shares credentials or access controls with other enterprise applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-49232 should prioritize immediate implementation of rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms for password reset attempts, ensuring that repeated failed PIN entries trigger protective measures. Organizations should implement exponential backoff protocols that increase delays between reset attempts, making brute-force attacks computationally infeasible. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of reset requests, while administrators should review and strengthen PIN generation algorithms to ensure sufficient entropy. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing proper session management and authentication controls, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1110 for credential access. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in authentication mechanisms, while patch management processes should be prioritized to address this vulnerability promptly. The incident underscores the necessity of following security best practices such as those outlined in NIST SP 800-63B for authentication and access control, ensuring that systems maintain robust defenses against credential-based attacks.