CVE-2000-0745 in PHP-Nuke
Summary
by MITRE
admin.php3 in PHP-Nuke does not properly verify the PHP-Nuke administrator password, which allows remote attackers to gain privileges by requesting a URL that does not specify the aid or pwd parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0745 resides within the admin.php3 component of PHP-Nuke, a widely deployed content management system and web application framework that was prevalent in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This flaw represents a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that fundamentally undermines the security model of the application. The issue manifests when the administrative interface attempts to validate administrator credentials without proper parameter verification, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to escalate their privileges. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication mechanisms, specifically focusing on weak or missing authentication checks that allow unauthorized access to privileged functions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a simple yet effective method of manipulating URL parameters during administrative access attempts. When an attacker crafts a URL that omits the aid (administrator ID) or pwd (password) parameters, the system fails to properly validate whether the user possesses legitimate administrative credentials. This absence of proper input validation and parameter checking creates a condition where any remote user can potentially bypass the authentication process entirely. The flaw stems from the application's failure to implement robust session management and credential verification procedures, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that circumvent the normal authentication flow.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations relying on PHP-Nuke for their web presence, particularly those managing sensitive content or user data. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this weakness from any location without requiring physical access to the system or knowledge of valid credentials. Successful exploitation results in full administrative privileges, enabling attackers to modify content, delete data, access user information, and potentially compromise the entire web application infrastructure. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected systems, as it provides attackers with complete control over the administrative functions of the PHP-Nuke platform.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2000-0745 should focus on immediate patching and code-level fixes to address the root cause of the authentication bypass. Organizations must ensure that all PHP-Nuke installations are updated to versions that properly validate administrative credentials through robust parameter checking mechanisms. The fix should implement mandatory parameter validation for aid and pwd fields, ensuring that any administrative access attempt requires proper authentication verification before proceeding. Additionally, implementing proper session management, input sanitization, and access control measures would prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, demonstrating how weak authentication can be exploited to gain administrative access to web applications. The incident underscores the critical importance of proper authentication mechanisms and parameter validation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive data or providing administrative interfaces. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their PHP-Nuke installations and implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls to prevent exploitation attempts while patches are being deployed.