CVE-2023-7226 in big-whale
Summary
by MITRE • 01/11/2024
A vulnerability was found in meetyoucrop big-whale 1.1 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the file /auth/user/all.api of the component Admin Module. The manipulation of the argument id leads to improper ownership management. The attack may be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-250232.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-7226 represents a critical security flaw within the meetyoucrop big-whale 1.1 application, specifically targeting the Admin Module's authentication and authorization mechanisms. This issue resides in the /auth/user/all.api endpoint which serves as a critical interface for user management operations within the system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and proper ownership verification when processing user identifiers, creating a significant risk for unauthorized access and privilege escalation. The flaw manifests when an attacker manipulates the id argument parameter, which should normally be restricted to authorized administrative operations but instead allows for improper ownership management across user accounts.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues where systems fail to properly enforce authorization mechanisms for accessing resources. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it can be executed remotely without requiring physical access to the system or prior authentication credentials. This remote exploit capability means that malicious actors can potentially target the vulnerability from any location with internet connectivity, making it highly dangerous in production environments. The vulnerability's classification as critical indicates that it can be easily exploited and can lead to complete system compromise or unauthorized data access.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-7226 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as improper ownership management can enable attackers to manipulate user permissions, escalate privileges, and potentially gain administrative control over the entire system. The disclosed exploit code available in VDB-250232 means that threat actors can immediately leverage this vulnerability without requiring advanced technical skills or extensive reconnaissance. This public availability of exploitation tools significantly increases the risk to organizations using the affected meetyoucrop big-whale 1.1 version, as the window for exploitation is immediate and widespread.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through official patches provided by meetyoucrop or by implementing compensating controls such as network segmentation, access control lists, and monitoring for suspicious API calls. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and authorization checks in web applications, particularly those handling user management functions. Security teams should also implement runtime application self-protection measures and conduct thorough penetration testing to identify similar issues within their application architecture. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access tactics, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security monitoring and response procedures to detect and mitigate such attacks effectively.
The presence of this vulnerability in an administrative module particularly highlights the need for defense-in-depth strategies, including multi-factor authentication, regular security audits, and continuous monitoring of administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect similar issues in their application code and infrastructure components. The public disclosure of this exploit underscores the critical importance of timely patch management and proactive security measures to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in widely used software components.