CVE-2018-10189 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A problem has been found in Mautic versions 1.x and 2.x prior to 2.13.0 where tracking contacts by their auto-incremented ID allows for potential emulation of tracking cookies for each contact, enabling manipulation of cookie values.

Understanding CVE-2018-10189

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in Mautic versions 1.x and 2.x before 2.13.0 that could be exploited to manipulate tracking cookies and retrieve contact information.

What is CVE-2018-10189?

An issue in Mautic versions 1.x and 2.x before 2.13.0 allows a third party to manipulate cookie values by adding +1, appearing as if they are being tracked as every contact in Mautic, facilitating the retrieval of contact information.

The Impact of CVE-2018-10189

Potential unauthorized access to contact information in Mautic
Risk of manipulation of tracking cookies leading to privacy breaches

Technical Details of CVE-2018-10189

This section provides detailed technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the ability to systematically emulate tracking cookies per contact by manipulating the auto-incremented ID, allowing unauthorized access to contact information.

Affected Systems and Versions

Mautic versions 1.x and 2.x before 2.13.0

Exploitation Mechanism

Manipulation of cookie values by adding +1 to appear as different contacts
Retrieval of contact information through forms with progressive profiling enabled

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-10189 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Mautic to version 2.13.0 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability
Monitor and audit tracking activities for any suspicious behavior

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict cookie handling policies
Regularly review and update security configurations

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Mautic to address the vulnerability