CVE-2023-5765 in Remote Desktop Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2023
Improper access control in the password analyzer feature in Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager 2023.2.33 and earlier on Windows allows an attacker to bypass permissions via data source switching.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5765 represents a critical access control flaw within Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager version 2023.2.33 and earlier releases on Windows platforms. This weakness specifically affects the password analyzer feature, which is designed to evaluate and manage password security within remote desktop environments. The issue stems from inadequate permission validation mechanisms that fail to properly enforce access restrictions when users attempt to switch between different data sources within the application. The vulnerability creates a pathway for unauthorized individuals to bypass established security controls and gain access to resources they should not be permitted to access.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the password analyzer component failing to validate user permissions when executing data source switching operations. When an attacker exploits this vulnerability, they can manipulate the application's internal state to transition between different data sources without proper authentication or authorization checks. This misconfiguration allows malicious actors to access sensitive information stored in various data sources that are normally restricted to authorized users only. The flaw essentially undermines the application's principle of least privilege by permitting unauthorized data access through legitimate application interfaces.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager for remote access management. Attackers could potentially access confidential remote desktop configurations, credential stores, and sensitive connection details from multiple data sources. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure to include potential lateral movement within network environments, as compromised credentials could enable further unauthorized access to connected systems. Organizations with complex remote desktop management setups using multiple data sources face the highest risk of exploitation, as the vulnerability could provide access to comprehensive remote access infrastructure information.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access. Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing network segmentation to limit access to the application, and conducting thorough access control reviews. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual data source switching activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include user access reviews to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive data sources within the application environment.