Desktop Central: Server-Side Request Forgery
CVE-2023-4769 is a high-severity server-side request forgery vulnerability in Desktop Central from ManageEngine, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected Desktop Central versions: 9.1.0. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 3.92% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 9.51% of all scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of Desktop Central you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| ManageEngine | Desktop Central | 9.1.0 | Not stated |
| Zoho | Manageengine Desktop Central | 9.1.0 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 6.6 | Medium | CNA (incibe.es) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.8 | High | NVD |
Official description
A SSRF vulnerability has been found in ManageEngine Desktop Central affecting version 9.1.0, specifically the /smtpConfig.do component. This vulnerability could allow an authenticated attacker to launch targeted attacks, such as a cross-port attack, service enumeration and other attacks via HTTP requests.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Server-Side Request Forgery
The web server receives a URL or similar request from an upstream component and retrieves the contents of this URL, but it does not sufficiently ensure that the request is being sent to the expected destination.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- If there is a known list of applications, IP, hostname, and/or domains to which the product is allowed to communicate, then use allowlists to ensure that outgoing requests are restricted to these known entities. The allowlists could be in the application code or possibly enforced by firewalls or network segmentation.
- If the product is expected to be able to connect to arbitrary IP addresses or domains, consider using a denylist that includes private network addresses, internal domain names, etc. The denylist could be in the application code or possibly enforced by firewalls or network segmentation.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
Recent Server-Side Request Forgery vulnerabilities
- 8.2 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.2 High severity
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