CVE-2022-48538 : Security Advisory and Response

A detailed overview of the CVE-2022-48538 vulnerability in Cacti 1.2.19, highlighting its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2022-48538

This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2022-48538, focusing on the vulnerability in Cacti 1.2.19.

What is CVE-2022-48538?

The CVE-2022-48538 vulnerability arises in Cacti 1.2.19 due to an authentication bypass in the web login functionality caused by inadequate validation in the PHP code. Specifically, the cacti_ldap_auth() function permits a zero as the password.

The Impact of CVE-2022-48538

The vulnerability allows unauthorized users to bypass authentication mechanisms and potentially gain unauthorized access to Cacti instances. This could lead to unauthorized data manipulation or leakage.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-48538

Explore the technical aspects of CVE-2022-48538, including its description, affected systems, versions, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability permits an attacker to authenticate without a valid password, undermining the intended authentication process.

Affected Systems and Versions

All instances of Cacti 1.2.19 are affected by CVE-2022-48538 due to the authentication bypass vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the improper validation in the PHP code, malicious actors can exploit the cacti_ldap_auth() function to authenticate with a zero password.

Mitigation and Prevention

Discover the steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2022-48538 and safeguard Cacti installations.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Cacti to the latest version to patch the vulnerability.
Implement additional access controls to restrict unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update the authentication mechanisms to ensure robust security.
Conduct security audits to identify and address any potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay vigilant for security advisories and promptly apply patches released by Cacti to address known vulnerabilities.