CVE-2020-13231 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In Cacti before 1.2.11, auth_profile.php?action=edit allows CSRF for an admin email change.

Understanding CVE-2020-13231

In this CVE, a vulnerability in Cacti before version 1.2.11 allows for CSRF attacks to change an admin email.

What is CVE-2020-13231?

The CVE-2020-13231 vulnerability in Cacti enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions by exploiting a cross-site request forgery (CSRF) issue in the auth_profile.php?action=edit functionality.

The Impact of CVE-2020-13231

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized changes to the admin email address, potentially compromising the security and integrity of the Cacti system.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-13231

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability lies in the auth_profile.php?action=edit feature of Cacti versions prior to 1.2.11, allowing malicious actors to execute CSRF attacks to modify the admin email.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Versions affected: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited through a CSRF attack, where an attacker tricks an authenticated user into unknowingly executing malicious actions, such as changing the admin email.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-13231 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade Cacti to version 1.2.11 or newer to mitigate the CSRF vulnerability.
Monitor admin email changes for any unauthorized modifications.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement CSRF tokens to validate and authenticate user actions.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Cacti.
Apply patches promptly to ensure the system is protected against known vulnerabilities.