CVE-2023-49339 in Banner
Summary
by MITRE • 02/13/2024
Ellucian Banner 9.17 allows Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) via a modified bannerId to the /StudentSelfService/ssb/studentCard/retrieveData endpoint.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-49339 represents a critical insecure direct object reference flaw within Ellucian Banner 9.17's Student Self Service module. This vulnerability specifically affects the /StudentSelfService/ssb/studentCard/retrieveData endpoint where the application fails to properly validate user authorization before processing requests containing modified bannerId parameters. The flaw enables unauthorized access to sensitive student data by allowing attackers to manipulate the bannerId parameter and retrieve information belonging to other users within the system. This type of vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of access control and data isolation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient authorization checks within the web application's request processing pipeline. When a legitimate user makes a request to the retrieveData endpoint, the system should verify that the requesting user has proper authorization to access the specified student record identified by the bannerId parameter. However, the current implementation fails to enforce these authorization checks, allowing any authenticated user to modify the bannerId value in the request and gain access to records they should not be permitted to view. This flaw falls under the CWE-639 category of Insecure Direct Object Reference, which is classified as a critical security weakness in web applications where applications use user-supplied input to directly access objects such as files, database records, or other resources without proper authorization validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates a significant risk for student privacy and institutional compliance. Attackers can potentially access sensitive personal information including academic records, financial data, and personal identifiers belonging to other students. This unauthorized data access could lead to identity theft, academic fraud, or other malicious activities that compromise both individual student privacy and institutional integrity. The vulnerability affects the core student self-service functionality and represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's access control mechanisms, potentially exposing thousands of student records depending on the system's configuration and user base size.
Organizations utilizing Ellucian Banner 9.17 should implement immediate mitigations including strict input validation for all user-supplied parameters, mandatory authorization checks before processing any object references, and comprehensive logging of access attempts to identify potential exploitation attempts. The recommended remediation involves implementing proper access control mechanisms that verify user permissions against the requested resource before granting access, utilizing role-based access control models, and ensuring that all object references are properly validated against the authenticated user's authorization scope. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough penetration testing and security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other endpoints and ensure that all applications within their ecosystem maintain proper authorization controls. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing robust access control mechanisms as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing to highlight the potential exploitation pathways and attack vectors that could arise from such insecure object references.