CVE-2024-45170 in C-MOR Video Surveillance
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2024
An issue was discovered in za-internet C-MOR Video Surveillance 5.2401. Due to improper or missing access control, low privileged users can use administrative functions of the C-MOR web interface. It was found out that different functions are only available to administrative users. However, access those functions is restricted via the web application user interface and not checked on the server side. Thus, by sending corresponding HTTP requests to the web server of the C-MOR web interface, low privileged users can also use administrative functionality, for instance downloading backup files or changing configuration settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-45170 affects za-internet C-MOR Video Surveillance version 5.2401, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of the video surveillance system. This issue stems from a fundamental misconfiguration in the web application's authorization mechanisms where administrative functions remain accessible to unauthorized users through direct HTTP request manipulation. The vulnerability specifically exploits the absence of server-side validation for administrative privileges, creating a scenario where client-side interface restrictions can be bypassed entirely.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure in implementing proper server-side access control checks, which is categorized under CWE-285: Improper Authorization. The web application employs client-side user interface controls to restrict access to administrative functions, but these controls serve merely as presentation layer barriers rather than robust security enforcement mechanisms. This architectural weakness allows low-privileged users to directly interact with the web server's administrative endpoints by crafting appropriate HTTP requests, effectively circumventing the intended access controls that should only permit authenticated administrators to perform sensitive operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations relying on C-MOR Video Surveillance systems for security monitoring and control. Low privileged users can exploit this flaw to download sensitive backup files containing system configurations, user credentials, and potentially video footage metadata, leading to unauthorized data access and potential privacy violations. Additionally, attackers can modify critical configuration settings, potentially disrupting system operations, creating backdoors, or establishing persistent access points within the surveillance infrastructure. The vulnerability essentially transforms any user account into a potential administrative threat vector, undermining the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure system design.
The attack surface for this vulnerability aligns with several MITRE ATT&CK framework techniques including T1078 Valid Accounts for initial access and T1566 Phishing for potentially acquiring user credentials. The lack of server-side validation creates opportunities for privilege escalation through direct API manipulation, representing a clear violation of the principle of defense in depth. Organizations implementing C-MOR Video Surveillance systems should consider this vulnerability as a critical security concern that requires immediate remediation, particularly in environments where surveillance systems contain sensitive operational data or are part of critical infrastructure security architectures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing robust server-side validation for all administrative functions and highlights the dangers of relying solely on client-side access control mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of server-side access control checks for all administrative endpoints, ensuring that privilege validation occurs at the application layer rather than relying on user interface controls. Organizations should also implement proper authentication and authorization logging to detect unauthorized access attempts and consider network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces. Regular security assessments of web applications should include thorough testing of access control mechanisms to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other system components. The remediation process should involve updating the C-MOR software to a patched version if available, or implementing compensating controls such as web application firewalls and additional access restrictions.