CVE-2023-7240 in NetIQ Identity Console
Summary
by MITRE • 05/07/2024
An improper authorization level has been detected in the login panel. It may lead to unauthenticated Server Side Request Forgery and allows to perform open services enumeration. Server makes query to provided server (Server IP/DNS field) and is triggering connection to arbitrary address.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-7240 represents a critical authorization flaw within the login panel of affected systems, fundamentally undermining the security controls designed to protect against unauthorized access. This weakness manifests as an improper authorization level that enables attackers to bypass legitimate authentication mechanisms and gain access to restricted functionalities. The flaw specifically impacts the authentication process where the system fails to properly validate user credentials or session states before granting access to sensitive operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability creates a dangerous condition where the system's login interface becomes a vector for server-side request forgery attacks. When users provide server IP or DNS information through the login panel, the system processes these inputs without adequate validation or authorization checks. This allows malicious actors to submit arbitrary addresses that the server will attempt to connect to, effectively transforming the login mechanism into an open proxy or enumeration tool. The server makes direct connections to addresses specified by the attacker, creating a pathway for unauthorized network reconnaissance and potential exploitation of internal services.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage in command and control communications. The operational impact extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as the vulnerability enables attackers to perform open services enumeration against internal networks that would otherwise be protected by firewalls or network segmentation. Attackers can leverage this flaw to discover open ports, services, and potentially vulnerable systems within the internal network, effectively using the compromised system as a pivot point for further reconnaissance and lateral movement.
The implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe in enterprise environments where internal network segmentation is critical for security posture. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can enumerate services running on internal systems, potentially identifying database servers, administrative interfaces, or other sensitive systems that should remain hidden from external access. The server-side request forgery component increases the attack surface significantly, as it allows for connections to be initiated from the server itself, bypassing typical client-side firewall restrictions and potentially enabling access to systems that would otherwise be protected by network security controls.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper authentication and authorization controls within the login panel, ensuring that all inputs are validated and sanitized before processing. The system must enforce strict access controls that prevent unauthorized users from submitting arbitrary server addresses or initiating connections to external systems. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict outbound connections from the server, while also implementing input validation and sanitization mechanisms to prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authorization flaws and ensure that authentication mechanisms remain robust against evolving attack vectors.