CVE-2024-2231 in Himer Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/03/2024
The allows any authenticated user to join a private group due to a missing authorization check on a function
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2231 represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of affected systems by permitting any authenticated user to gain access to private groups without proper authorization. This issue stems from a fundamental failure in the access control mechanisms that should normally restrict group membership to authorized individuals only. The flaw exists within a specific function that lacks the necessary authorization checks, creating an exploitable path that bypasses intended security boundaries. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they leverage the trust model of authenticated sessions, where users have already proven their identity through legitimate authentication processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic authorization bypass weakness that aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems. When an authenticated user invokes the vulnerable function, the system fails to verify whether the user possesses the appropriate permissions to join the target private group. This missing authorization check creates a scenario where any user who can authenticate to the system can manipulate group membership, effectively neutralizing the privacy controls that private groups are designed to enforce. The flaw likely resides in the backend logic that processes group membership requests, where the system assumes all authenticated users have equal access privileges regardless of their actual authorization level or role within the organization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of private group communications and data sharing mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain access to sensitive information that should only be available to specific authorized members, potentially leading to data breaches, information disclosure, and unauthorized collaboration within restricted environments. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity aspects of the security triad, as it allows unauthorized users to join private groups and potentially access confidential data, communications, or resources that are specifically restricted to authorized participants. This issue can be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where private groups often contain sensitive business information, personal data, or classified communications that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering, as attackers could leverage the authenticated access to manipulate group memberships. The exploitation of this vulnerability typically requires minimal technical skill since it exploits the existing authentication mechanism rather than requiring complex attack vectors. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including adding proper authorization checks to the vulnerable function, implementing role-based access controls, and conducting comprehensive audits of all group membership functions. The recommended remediation involves introducing robust authorization validation that verifies user permissions before allowing group membership modifications, along with implementing proper logging and monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should review their entire access control framework to identify similar authorization gaps that may exist in other functions or components of the system.