OpenCTI is a powerful and popular open-source platform that allows organizations to manage their cyber threat intelligence knowledge and observables. However, security concerns sometimes arise in such systems, and one such vulnerability, CVE-2024-26139, has recently been discovered. This vulnerability enables an authenticated attacker with low privileges to gain administrative privileges on the web application. In this in-depth post, we will explore the details of the exploit, the code snippet that exposes the vulnerability, and links to original references to help you understand and mitigate this issue.

The Vulnerability: CVE-2024-26139

The CVE-2024-26139 vulnerability is found in the profile edit functionality of OpenCTI. Due to certain security controls being absent, a malicious user with minimal privileges can escalate their user role to gain full administrative access. Once a user has administrative access, they can wreak havoc on the system by exfiltrating data or injecting malware.

Below is a code snippet from the vulnerable portion of the OpenCTI application

// opencti-profile-edit.js

// User role assignment without proper validation
function editProfile(user, newRole) {
  user.role = newRole;
}

As you can see in the code above, the editProfile function assigns a new role to a user without performing any validation or authorization checks. This allows a low-privileged user to change their role to 'admin', for example, by simply sending a request in the following format:

POST /api/v1/user/update
{
  "id": "5d1a4aa5-5898-4d32-9037-afe14ea78asd",
  "role": "admin"
}

Exploit Details

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would first have to gain access to the application with low-level user privileges. This step can potentially be achieved through weak password attacks, social engineering, or gaining unauthorized access via an open session on a compromised device.

Once authenticated, the attacker can then send a malicious request to the OpenCTI API, setting their own user role to "admin", as mentioned earlier. If they successfully escalate their privileges, the attacker can manipulate data, exfiltrate information, or even deploy malware in the background.

To mitigate this issue, the OpenCTI development team can implement proper validation and authorization checks before a user's role change is accepted. This could be achieved by:

For more information about the CVE-2024-26139 vulnerability, please refer to the below resources

1. OpenCTI GitHub Repository: https://github.com/OpenCTI-Platform
2. CVE-2024-26139 Official Entry: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2024-26139

Conclusion

In closing, CVE-2024-26139 exposes a significant vulnerability in the OpenCTI platform that can lead to unauthorized administrative access. By understanding and addressing this security concern, organizations can continue to leverage OpenCTI's powerful cyber threat intelligence capabilities in a more secure manner. Stay vigilant and informed to ensure the protection and integrity of your valuable data.

Timeline

Published on: 05/23/2024 12:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 06/04/2024 17:48:57 UTC