CVE-2024-29316 in NodeBB
Summary
by MITRE • 03/29/2024
NodeBB 3.6.7 is vulnerable to Incorrect Access Control, e.g., a low-privileged attacker can access the restricted tabs for the Admin group via "isadmin":true.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2024
NodeBB version 3.6.7 contains a critical access control vulnerability that allows low-privileged users to gain unauthorized access to administrative functionality through a flawed permission validation mechanism. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the system fails to properly verify user privileges before granting access to restricted administrative interfaces. The flaw occurs when an attacker manipulates the "isadmin":true parameter within the application's request handling, bypassing the normal authentication and authorization checks that should prevent non-administrative users from accessing sensitive administrative tabs and features.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege escalation checks within the NodeBB application's access control system. When the application processes requests containing the isadmin flag, it does not properly authenticate whether the requesting user actually possesses administrative privileges. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checking, which aligns with CWE-285, specifically the weakness related to improper authorization in web applications. The vulnerability essentially allows a malicious user to impersonate an administrator by simply manipulating request parameters, bypassing the normal user privilege verification mechanisms that should ensure only legitimate administrators can access restricted functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it grants attackers elevated privileges that could lead to complete system compromise. Low-privileged users who exploit this vulnerability can access administrative panels, modify user permissions, manipulate forum content, access sensitive configuration data, and potentially execute further attacks within the system. This represents a significant escalation of privileges that could enable attackers to perform actions such as adding new administrators, modifying user accounts, accessing private messages, and altering forum settings that could disrupt service availability or compromise data integrity. The vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through manipulation of application logic and credential access through unauthorized administrative access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust access control validation mechanisms that do not rely solely on client-side parameter manipulation. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of NodeBB that addresses this specific access control flaw, as the vulnerability affects the core authentication system. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures, enforcing strict session management, and deploying application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious parameter manipulation attempts would provide additional layers of protection. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns and unauthorized administrative access attempts. The fix should ensure that all administrative functionality requires proper authentication tokens and session validation before granting access, eliminating the possibility of parameter manipulation bypassing the normal authorization process. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their NodeBB installations to identify any other potential access control vulnerabilities that could be exploited in similar manners.