CVE-2023-6773 in POS and Inventory Management System
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2023
A vulnerability has been found in CodeAstro POS and Inventory Management System 1.0 and classified as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /accounts_con/register_account of the component User Creation Handler. The manipulation of the argument account_type with the input Admin leads to improper access controls. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-247909 was assigned to this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6773 resides within the CodeAstro POS and Inventory Management System version 1.0, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the system's security posture. This vulnerability specifically targets the user creation handler component located at /accounts_con/register_account, where the improper handling of user account types creates a pathway for unauthorized privilege escalation. The flaw manifests when an attacker manipulates the account_type parameter with the value Admin, effectively bypassing normal authentication and authorization mechanisms that should prevent arbitrary user privilege assignment.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-285, which encompasses improper access control issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1484 for legitimate credentials. The attack vector is classified as remote, meaning that malicious actors can exploit this flaw without requiring physical access to the system or local network presence. The vulnerability's disclosure status indicates that public exploitation methods are available, significantly increasing the risk to affected organizations. The system's failure to properly validate and sanitize the account_type input parameter creates a direct pathway for privilege escalation attacks where unauthorized users can assume administrative privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally compromises the system's integrity and confidentiality controls. When an attacker successfully manipulates the account_type parameter to Admin, they gain complete administrative control over the POS and inventory management system, including the ability to modify user accounts, access sensitive financial data, alter inventory records, and potentially disrupt business operations. The remote exploit capability means that attackers can target the system from anywhere on the internet, making the attack surface significantly larger than if this were a local privilege escalation vulnerability.
Organizations utilizing CodeAstro POS and Inventory Management System version 1.0 should immediately implement mitigations including input validation and sanitization of all user-supplied parameters, particularly those related to account creation and privilege assignment. The system should enforce strict authorization checks that validate user permissions before allowing any privilege escalation operations. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit access to the vulnerable endpoint, while regular security audits should monitor for unauthorized privilege assignments. Additionally, the system should implement proper logging and monitoring mechanisms to detect suspicious account creation attempts and privilege escalation activities, as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework's identify and detect functions. The vulnerability's classification as a remote exploit with public disclosure necessitates immediate remediation through patching or implementing compensating controls to prevent unauthorized administrative access to the system.