A recently discovered security vulnerability (CVE-2023-38035) has been found to affect the MICS (MobileIron Core Server) Admin Portal in Ivanti MobileIron Sentry in versions 9.18. and below. This vulnerability may allow an attacker to bypass authentication controls on the administrative interface due to an insufficiently restrictive Apache HTTPD configuration. In this post, we’ll explore the details of this exploit, provide code snippets to demonstrate its impact, and share valuable references for further reading and mitigation.

Exploit Details

The vulnerability resides in the Apache HTTPD configuration, specifically in the authentication process. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a malicious request to the server, effectively bypassing the authentication controls in place and potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive functions and data.

Here's a sample malicious request that an attacker might send to exploit this vulnerability

GET /admin/ HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
User-Agent: Python
Accept-Encoding: gzip, deflate
Accept: */*
Connection: keep-alive
Proxy-Authorization: Basic <base64_encode("admin:anyPassword")>

By including the Proxy-Authorization header in the request, an attacker can trick the server into believing that the authentication was successful and grant unauthorized access.

Impact

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability to escalate their privileges, which might allow them to perform actions they shouldn't be able to, such as:

Adjust system settings

These unauthorized actions could lead to breaches of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system.

Solution and Mitigation

Ivanti has released patches and updated versions of MobileIron Sentry to address this vulnerability. Users should upgrade to the latest version to resolve this issue.

The Apache HTTPD server configuration should be reviewed and adjusted for proper authentication and access controls. It's also crucial to limit the allowed IP addresses that can access the administrative interface and employ strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA).

References and Additional Resources

- CVE-2023-38035 (NVD)
- Ivanti MobileIron Sentry Release Notes
- Apache HTTPD Configuration Examples
- Securing Your Apache Server (DigitalOcean)

Conclusion

CVE-2023-38035 is a serious vulnerability in the MICS Admin Portal in Ivanti MobileIron Sentry that may allow an attacker to bypass authentication controls. By understanding this exploit and the measures needed to mitigate it, users can protect their systems and ensure the security of their sensitive data and administrative functions. Always make sure to keep your software updated and follow best practices in securing your infrastructure.

Timeline

Published on: 08/21/2023 17:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 08/24/2023 21:13:00 UTC