CVE-2024-25064 in HikCentral Professional
Summary
by MITRE • 03/02/2024
Due to insufficient server-side validation, an attacker with login privileges could access certain resources that the attacker should not have access to by changing parameter values.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2024
This vulnerability represents a classic access control flaw that undermines the fundamental security principle of least privilege. The issue stems from inadequate server-side validation mechanisms that fail to properly authenticate and authorize user requests before granting access to protected resources. Attackers with legitimate login credentials can exploit this weakness by manipulating parameter values in their requests to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or functionality. The vulnerability essentially allows privilege escalation through parameter manipulation, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages existing valid credentials to achieve unauthorized access. This type of flaw typically occurs when applications fail to implement proper input validation and access control checks at the server level, relying instead on client-side restrictions or incomplete server-side verification.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which describes improper authorization conditions in software systems. This weakness enables attackers to perform unauthorized operations by manipulating request parameters that should be validated and restricted. The vulnerability creates a path for attackers to traverse access control boundaries through parameter tampering, essentially allowing them to modify request parameters to access resources they should not be permitted to reach. This represents a direct violation of the principle that access controls must be enforced on the server-side rather than relying on client-side validation alone. The flaw demonstrates a failure in the application's security architecture where parameter values are not properly validated against the user's authorization context, leading to potential data exposure and privilege abuse.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability can result in significant security breaches and data loss for affected organizations. Attackers can potentially access confidential information, modify system configurations, or perform administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can enable further exploitation through lateral movement within the system or escalation to higher privilege accounts. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, financial losses, reputational damage, and potential legal consequences due to unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability also increases the attack surface for more sophisticated attacks, as compromised accounts can now be used to access additional resources that were previously protected by proper access controls. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where applications handle sensitive personal data, financial information, or critical business operations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust server-side access control validation and input parameter sanitization. Organizations must ensure that all user requests are properly authenticated and authorized before any resource access is granted, with validation occurring at the server level rather than relying on client-side checks. This includes implementing proper access control lists, role-based access controls, and comprehensive parameter validation mechanisms that verify user permissions against requested resources. The solution involves strengthening the application's security architecture by enforcing authorization checks on every request parameter and ensuring that access decisions are made based on the authenticated user's actual privileges. Security measures should include implementing proper logging and monitoring of access attempts, conducting regular security code reviews, and establishing automated testing procedures to identify similar access control vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing defense-in-depth strategies such as multi-factor authentication, session management controls, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of this class of vulnerabilities. The remediation approach must address both the immediate vulnerability and broader architectural security weaknesses that allowed the flaw to exist in the first place.