CVE-2017-1000141 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in Mahara prior to version 18.10.0 could allow users to lose control over their accounts, impacting account management functionalities.

Understanding CVE-2017-1000141

What is CVE-2017-1000141?

This CVE identifies an issue in Mahara versions before 18.10.0 that mishandles user requests, potentially leading to users losing the ability to manage their accounts effectively.

The Impact of CVE-2017-1000141

The vulnerability could result in users being unable to perform essential account management tasks like changing usernames, primary email addresses, or deleting accounts, affecting user control and security.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-1000141

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Mahara mishandles user requests, which should prompt for password verification or send notifications to the primary email address but fails to do so in affected versions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Mahara
Vendor: N/A
Versions Affected: All versions before 18.10.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by malicious users to disrupt account management functions, potentially leading to unauthorized changes or deletions.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Mahara to version 18.10.0 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Encourage users to enable multi-factor authentication for added security.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update account security settings.
Educate users on best practices for maintaining account security.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates for Mahara to address known vulnerabilities.