CVE-2018-9856 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Kotti before 1.3.2 and 2.x before 2.0.0b2 has a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the local roles implementation, allowing unauthorized permission changes.

Understanding CVE-2018-9856

This CVE identifies a security flaw in Kotti versions prior to 1.3.2 and 2.x before 2.0.0b2 that could be exploited for CSRF attacks.

What is CVE-2018-9856?

The vulnerability in Kotti versions allows attackers to manipulate permissions through a specific request, potentially leading to unauthorized actions.

The Impact of CVE-2018-9856

Exploiting this vulnerability could result in unauthorized changes to permissions within the application, compromising its security and integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-9856

Kotti versions prior to 1.3.2 and 2.x before 2.0.0b2 are susceptible to a CSRF vulnerability in the local roles implementation.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability enables attackers to perform permission changes through a specific request, such as /admin-document/@@share, without proper authorization.

Affected Systems and Versions

Kotti versions before 1.3.2
Kotti 2.x versions before 2.0.0b2

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted requests to manipulate permissions, potentially leading to unauthorized actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-9856, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Kotti to version 1.3.2 or 2.0.0b2, which contain fixes for the CSRF vulnerability.
Monitor and restrict access to sensitive functionalities within the application.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement CSRF tokens to validate and authenticate requests.
Regularly audit and review permission settings to prevent unauthorized changes.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Kotti to mitigate the CSRF vulnerability.