CVE-2024-45979 in Police CAD
Summary
by MITRE • 09/26/2024
A host header injection vulnerability in Lines Police CAD 1.0 allows attackers to obtain the password reset token via user interaction with a crafted password reset link. This allows attackers to arbitrarily reset other users' passwords and compromise their accounts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-45979 represents a critical host header injection flaw within Lines Police CAD version 1.0 that fundamentally compromises the application's authentication security mechanisms. This issue stems from improper validation of host headers during the password reset process, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior through maliciously crafted HTTP requests. The vulnerability specifically affects the password reset functionality where the application fails to properly sanitize or validate host header values, allowing an attacker to inject malicious host information into the reset token generation process.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious password reset link that includes a forged host header value. When a victim clicks on this manipulated link, the application processes the reset request using the attacker-controlled host header instead of the legitimate application domain. This manipulation enables the attacker to obtain valid password reset tokens that can be used to assume control of victim accounts. The flaw operates at the application layer where HTTP headers are not properly validated, creating a direct path for attackers to bypass normal authentication controls and gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to the security posture of Lines Police CAD deployments, particularly in law enforcement environments where account compromise could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive police information and systems. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary password resets, meaning attackers can target any user account within the system without requiring prior knowledge of valid credentials. This makes the attack surface particularly dangerous as it enables both targeted attacks against specific users and broader account compromise campaigns. The requirement for user interaction through the crafted reset link does not mitigate the severity, as social engineering techniques can easily facilitate successful exploitation.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which addresses URL redirect or forward vulnerabilities, and specifically relates to host header injection patterns that have been documented in numerous security advisories. From an attack framework perspective, this issue maps to the privilege escalation and credential access categories within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, where attackers can leverage initial access through password reset manipulation to achieve persistent control over user accounts. The attack chain typically involves reconnaissance to identify the application's password reset functionality, crafting malicious links with manipulated host headers, and then using the obtained tokens to reset victim passwords and gain unauthorized access. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation for host headers, proper header sanitization, and the implementation of secure password reset mechanisms that do not rely on host header information for token generation and validation.
Security measures to address this vulnerability should include comprehensive host header validation within the application's authentication flow, implementation of strict header sanitization protocols, and the adoption of secure password reset token generation that does not depend on host header values. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication and monitoring for suspicious reset activity. The fix requires careful attention to ensure that the application properly validates and sanitizes all host header inputs while maintaining legitimate functionality for users accessing the system through various domains or subdomains.