CVE-2001-1053 in Adcycle
Summary
by MITRE
AdLogin.pm in AdCycle 1.15 and earlier allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain privileges by injecting SQL code in the $password argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-1053 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the AdCycle web application version 1.15 and earlier. This issue resides in the AdLogin.pm component which handles user authentication processes. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly handle malicious SQL injection payloads within the password parameter. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted input strings that contain SQL code, which then gets executed within the application's database interaction layer. The flaw enables unauthorized access to administrative privileges without proper authentication credentials, fundamentally compromising the application's security model.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with common SQL injection attack patterns and can be categorized under CWE-89 SQL Injection. This weakness allows attackers to manipulate the authentication process by injecting malicious SQL commands through the password argument, effectively bypassing the intended security controls. The vulnerability occurs because the application directly incorporates user-supplied input into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. When the application processes the injected SQL code, it executes unintended database operations that can reveal user credentials, modify access controls, or escalate privileges to administrative levels. This type of injection attack specifically targets the authentication mechanism, making it particularly dangerous as it can lead to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to assume administrative roles within the AdCycle application. Successful exploitation can result in complete control over advertising campaigns, user management, financial data access, and potentially lead to further network compromise through lateral movement. The vulnerability affects organizations using AdCycle versions up to 1.15, making it a significant concern for businesses relying on this platform for digital advertising management. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a straightforward path to privilege escalation with minimal technical expertise required, making it an attractive target in automated attack scenarios. The impact is particularly severe because authentication bypass vulnerabilities often serve as initial entry points for more extensive attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-1053 primarily focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks. Organizations should immediately upgrade to AdCycle versions 1.16 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and secure coding practices. The recommended approach involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate SQL code from user input, ensuring that malicious payloads cannot be executed within the database context. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive input validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially dangerous characters and patterns commonly associated with SQL injection attacks. Network segmentation and access control measures should be deployed to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation, while regular security audits and penetration testing can help identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The fix aligns with defensive coding practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and follows the principle of least privilege, ensuring that applications properly validate and sanitize all user inputs before processing them in database operations.