CVE-2000-0758 in List Manager
Summary
by MITRE
The web interface for Lyris List Manager 3 and 4 allows list subscribers to obtain administrative access by modifying the value of the list_admin hidden form field.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/06/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-0758 represents a critical access control flaw in the Lyris List Manager web interface versions 3 and 4. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and improper privilege management within the application's user interface, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to escalate their privileges from subscriber level to administrative access. The vulnerability specifically targets the web form processing mechanism where the application relies on client-side hidden form fields to maintain administrative state, a design pattern that fundamentally violates security best practices for privilege management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the list_admin hidden form field, which is typically used to store administrative status information within the web application's session or form data. When a legitimate subscriber accesses the list management interface, the application includes this hidden field in the HTML form to track whether the current user possesses administrative privileges. However, the application fails to validate or re-authenticate the user's actual privileges before processing the form submission, allowing an attacker to modify the hidden field value from a non-administrative status to an administrative one. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software applications, and specifically demonstrates weak input validation that enables privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations utilizing Lyris List Manager versions 3 or 4. An attacker who gains administrative access through this method can perform any action available to system administrators, including modifying list configurations, adding or removing subscribers, accessing confidential mailing list data, changing system settings, and potentially using the compromised administrative account for further attacks within the organization's network. This vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor that bypasses all normal authentication and authorization mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous for email list management systems that often contain sensitive organizational data and communication channels.
The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insecure direct object reference and privilege escalation, where the application trusts client-side data without proper server-side validation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques under the T1068 category, specifically involving the exploitation of application vulnerabilities to gain elevated privileges. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest available versions of Lyris List Manager, implementing proper input validation for all form fields, and ensuring that administrative privileges are verified through secure server-side mechanisms rather than relying on client-side hidden fields. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security reviews of their web applications to identify similar patterns where client-side data is trusted without proper server-side verification, as this vulnerability type remains prevalent in legacy web applications.