CVE-2025-29995

Vulnerability Remediation/Mitigation Strategy: CVE-2025-29995 - CAP Back Office Application Weak Password Reset

1. Vulnerability Description:

  • Vulnerability ID: CVE-2025-29995
  • Affected System: CAP Back Office Application
  • Description: A weak password-reset mechanism exists in the CAP Back Office Application’s API endpoints. An authenticated attacker with a valid login ID can exploit this vulnerability to takeover accounts of other users through the vulnerable API endpoint.

2. Severity:

  • CVSS Score: 8.3 (High) Based on the provided data.
  • Impact: Account Takeover. Attackers can gain full control of targeted user accounts within the CAP Back Office Application. This allows them to access sensitive data, perform actions on behalf of the compromised user, and potentially escalate privileges to other systems.
  • Likelihood: The vulnerability is exploitable by authenticated users with a valid login ID which increase the likelihood of an attack.

3. Known Exploits:

  • While the description doesn’t provide specific exploit details, the vulnerability is exploitable through a predictable or bypassable password reset API endpoint. This likely involves manipulating the request parameters or intercepting and modifying the password reset process.
  • Possible Exploit Scenarios:
    • Parameter Manipulation: Attacker uses a legitimate login ID and somehow manipulates the password reset request to target a different user’s account. This could involve altering user ID parameters, bypassing security checks, or spoofing requests.
    • Token Manipulation: The password reset token is generated in a predictable manner or can be brute-forced.
    • Insufficient Validation: The API endpoint doesn’t properly validate the request, allowing an attacker to reset the password for an account they don’t own.

4. Remediation/Mitigation Strategy:

This strategy focuses on addressing the weak password reset mechanism and preventing account takeover:

  • Phase 1: Immediate Actions (Within 24-48 Hours):

    • Disable Vulnerable API Endpoint (Temporary Solution): If feasible, temporarily disable the password reset API endpoint identified as vulnerable. This will prevent exploitation but will also prevent users from resetting their passwords. Communicate this outage to users.
    • Monitor API Traffic: Implement robust monitoring of the password reset API endpoint to detect any suspicious activity or potential exploitation attempts. Focus on identifying unusual request patterns, parameter manipulation, or invalid authentication tokens.
    • Incident Response Plan Review: Review and update the incident response plan to include specific procedures for handling account takeover incidents resulting from this vulnerability.

  • Phase 2: Short-Term Fixes (Within 1-2 Weeks):

    • Strengthen Password Reset Mechanism: Implement the following improvements to the password reset process:
      • Strong Random Token Generation: Use a cryptographically secure random number generator to create unique and unpredictable password reset tokens. Tokens should be sufficiently long (at least 32 characters) and stored securely.
      • User-Specific Tokens: Ensure that each password reset token is uniquely associated with the user account for which the reset is initiated. The token must include the username.
      • Token Expiry: Set a short expiration time for password reset tokens (e.g., 15-30 minutes). After the expiry time, the token should be invalidated.
      • Secure Token Storage: Store password reset tokens securely (e.g., hashed and salted) and associate them with the user account.
      • Rate Limiting: Implement rate limiting on the password reset API endpoint to prevent brute-force attacks.
      • Input Validation: Implement strict input validation on all parameters of the password reset API to prevent parameter manipulation. Check input for proper format, length, and allowed characters.
      • User Verification: Require the user to verify their identity using a secondary authentication method (e.g., email confirmation, SMS code) before allowing them to reset their password. This helps to prevent unauthorized password resets.
    • Code Review: Conduct a thorough code review of the password reset API endpoint to identify and fix any other potential vulnerabilities.
    • Penetration Testing: Perform penetration testing on the API endpoint to validate the effectiveness of the fixes.

  • Phase 3: Long-Term Improvements (Within 1-3 Months):

    • Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implement MFA for all user accounts to provide an additional layer of security. This will significantly reduce the risk of account takeover, even if a password is compromised.
    • Password Policy Enforcement: Enforce a strong password policy that requires users to create complex passwords and change them regularly.
    • Security Awareness Training: Provide security awareness training to all users to educate them about the risks of account takeover and how to protect their accounts.
    • Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits of the CAP Back Office Application to identify and address any potential vulnerabilities.
    • Automated Security Scanning: Implement automated security scanning tools to continuously monitor the application for vulnerabilities.
    • Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC): Integrate security considerations into all stages of the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
    • Logging and Auditing: Implement comprehensive logging and auditing of all security-related events, including password resets, login attempts, and account modifications.

5. Testing and Validation:

  • Unit Testing: Develop unit tests to verify the functionality of the password reset API endpoint and ensure that it is resistant to manipulation.
  • Integration Testing: Conduct integration tests to verify that the password reset API endpoint works correctly with other components of the CAP Back Office Application.
  • Penetration Testing: Perform penetration testing to identify and exploit any remaining vulnerabilities.
  • User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Involve end-users in the testing process to ensure that the password reset mechanism is user-friendly and meets their needs.

6. Communication:

  • Internal Communication: Communicate the vulnerability and remediation plan to all relevant stakeholders, including developers, security team, operations team, and management.
  • External Communication: Inform users of the CAP Back Office Application about the vulnerability and the steps being taken to address it. Provide guidance on how to protect their accounts.

7. Version Control & Change Management:

  • All code changes related to the remediation of this vulnerability should be carefully managed through a version control system (e.g., Git).
  • A formal change management process should be followed to ensure that changes are properly tested and approved before being deployed to production.

8. Post-Implementation Review:

  • After the remediation plan has been implemented, conduct a post-implementation review to assess its effectiveness and identify any areas for improvement. Document the lessons learned.

This comprehensive strategy will help to mitigate the risk of account takeover and protect the CAP Back Office Application from future attacks. It’s crucial to prioritize these actions and allocate sufficient resources to ensure their timely completion.

Assigner

Date

  • Published Date: 2025-03-13 12:15:14
  • Updated Date: 2025-03-13 12:15:14

More Details

CVE-2025-29995