CVE-2023-6150 in e-municipality module
Summary
by MITRE • 11/28/2023
Incorrect Use of Privileged APIs vulnerability in ESKOM Computer e-municipality module allows Collect Data as Provided by Users.
This issue affects e-municipality module: before v.105.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2026
The CVE-2023-6150 vulnerability represents a critical improper privilege management flaw within the ESKOM Computer e-municipality module, specifically impacting versions prior to v.105. This vulnerability stems from inadequate access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions when processing data collection operations. The issue manifests as a failure to enforce proper authorization checks, allowing unauthorized users to perform data collection activities that should be restricted to privileged personnel. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-276, which specifically addresses improper privilege management, where software applications fail to properly enforce access controls and authorization mechanisms. This weakness creates a significant security gap in the e-municipality system's data handling processes, particularly concerning user-provided information collection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the application level where the e-municipality module does not adequately validate whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to collect data from the system. This flaw enables attackers to exploit the system by assuming roles or permissions they should not have, thereby gaining unauthorized access to data collection functionalities. The vulnerability operates through the application's authentication and authorization framework, where insufficient input validation and privilege checking mechanisms allow malicious actors to bypass normal access controls. From an operational perspective, this weakness directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of municipal data, as unauthorized users can collect sensitive information from the system without proper authorization. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1078 principle of valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering, as it enables unauthorized access through compromised or misconfigured privilege management.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-6150 extends beyond simple unauthorized data access, creating potential risks for municipal data integrity and system security. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to collect sensitive citizen information, potentially leading to identity theft, privacy violations, and data breaches that compromise municipal operations. The vulnerability's scope affects all users of the e-municipality module who interact with data collection features, making it particularly dangerous in environments where sensitive municipal data is processed. Organizations using affected versions of the e-municipality module face significant compliance risks, as this vulnerability could violate data protection regulations and municipal data governance policies. The risk assessment indicates this vulnerability should be prioritized for immediate remediation, as it provides a clear pathway for unauthorized data collection that could be exploited to gain further access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-6150 should focus on implementing proper privilege management controls and access validation mechanisms within the e-municipality module. Organizations must upgrade to version v.105 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the improper privilege management flaw. Additionally, implementing comprehensive access control reviews and privilege auditing procedures will help identify and remediate similar issues in other system components. Security teams should conduct thorough penetration testing to verify that proper authorization checks are in place for all data collection functions. The remediation process should include implementing role-based access controls that ensure only authorized personnel can perform data collection activities, along with logging and monitoring capabilities to detect unauthorized access attempts. Organizations should also review their overall security architecture to prevent similar privilege management issues from occurring in other applications and systems within their municipal infrastructure.