CVE-2024-10214 in Mattermost
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2024
Mattermost versions 9.11.X <= 9.11.1, 9.5.x <= 9.5.9 icorrectly issues two sessions when using desktop SSO - one in the browser and one in desktop with incorrect settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-10214 affects Mattermost server versions within the 9.11.X and 9.5.X release series, specifically impacting installations up to and including versions 9.11.1 and 9.5.9 respectively. This issue manifests in the Single Sign-On implementation for desktop applications, creating a significant security risk through improper session management. The flaw occurs during the desktop SSO authentication process where the system generates two separate sessions instead of maintaining a single coherent authentication state, leading to potential exploitation vectors and unauthorized access scenarios.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the incorrect session handling mechanism within the Mattermost desktop application's SSO implementation. When users authenticate through desktop SSO, the system fails to properly coordinate between the browser-based session and the desktop application session, resulting in the creation of duplicate authentication contexts. This improper session management creates a scenario where the desktop application maintains its own session state separate from the browser session, leading to inconsistent authentication states and potential privilege escalation opportunities. The vulnerability specifically affects the desktop application's ability to properly synchronize authentication tokens and session identifiers between the browser and desktop environments, creating a fundamental breakdown in the authentication flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple session management issues, creating potential security implications that could be exploited by malicious actors. Attackers could potentially leverage the dual session creation to bypass certain authentication controls, gain unauthorized access to user accounts, or manipulate session tokens in ways that compromise the integrity of the authentication system. The presence of two separate sessions with potentially different security settings creates confusion in access control enforcement and could allow unauthorized privilege escalation or session hijacking attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on Mattermost for secure communications and collaboration, as the desktop SSO functionality is a critical component for enterprise deployments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-10214 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Mattermost installations to versions that address the session management flaw. Organizations should implement monitoring of authentication logs to detect unusual session patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation. Additionally, security teams should review and audit existing SSO configurations to ensure proper session handling and implement additional authentication layers where possible. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session management, and could be exploited through techniques categorized under ATT&CK tactic TA0006 (Credential Access) and technique T1586 (Compromise Credentials). Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication as an additional protective measure against potential exploitation attempts, given the nature of session management flaws that could allow attackers to maintain unauthorized access to user accounts.