CVE-2023-7031 in Aura Experience Portal Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 01/17/2024
Insecure Direct Object Reference vulnerabilities were discovered in the Avaya Aura Experience Portal Manager which may allow partial information disclosure to an authenticated non-privileged user. Affected versions include 8.0.x and 8.1.x, prior to 8.1.2 patch 0402. Versions prior to 8.0 are end of manufacturer support.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2024
The CVE-2023-7031 vulnerability represents a critical Insecure Direct Object Reference issue within the Avaya Aura Experience Portal Manager platform, exposing organizations to unauthorized information disclosure risks. This vulnerability specifically affects versions 8.0.x and 8.1.x of the software, with the affected range extending to include all builds prior to the 8.1.2 patch 0402 release. The flaw exists within the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the portal manager, creating a pathway for authenticated but non-privileged users to potentially access data they should not have authorized access to. The vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of object references, where direct access to internal objects occurs without adequate validation of user permissions or access controls. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms, and falls within the broader category of improper access control vulnerabilities that have been consistently identified as high-risk threats in cybersecurity frameworks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the Avaya Aura Experience Portal Manager. An authenticated user who exploits this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive customer data, system configurations, or other confidential information that should only be available to privileged administrators or authorized personnel. The nature of the vulnerability means that attackers who have gained initial access through legitimate means could escalate their privileges or gain insights into the system's internal workings that would otherwise remain protected. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where the portal manager likely serves as a central hub for customer interactions, call management, and business-critical communications. The attack pattern aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and credential access domains, where attackers leverage legitimate access to expand their capabilities within the system. Organizations using affected versions of the software face significant risks including potential data breaches, compliance violations, and reputational damage if this vulnerability is exploited.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations that include patching to the 8.1.2 patch 0402 or higher versions of the Avaya Aura Experience Portal Manager, which contain the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. System administrators should also conduct thorough access reviews to ensure that user permissions are properly configured and that the principle of least privilege is maintained across all portal manager components. Network segmentation strategies should be implemented to limit access to the portal manager to only authorized personnel and systems. Additional monitoring should be deployed to detect unusual access patterns or attempts to access unauthorized resources within the portal manager. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security updates and the need for organizations to maintain current with vendor security patches. Organizations should also review their incident response procedures to ensure they can quickly detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability could be used in conjunction with other attack vectors to compromise additional system components. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper access control implementation and the potential consequences of inadequate object reference validation in enterprise applications.