CVE-2001-1535 in Slashcode
Summary
by MITRE
Slashcode 2.0 creates new accounts with an 8-character random password, which could allow local users to obtain session ID s from cookies and gain unauthorized access via a brute force attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2024
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2001-1535 affects Slashcode 2.0, a web application framework that was widely used for creating dynamic websites and forums. This security flaw stems from the application's weak account creation mechanism that generates new user accounts with predictable 8-character random passwords. The vulnerability represents a significant security weakness in the authentication and session management components of the software, creating an attack surface that adversaries could exploit to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the predictable nature of the password generation algorithm used by Slashcode 2.0 during account creation. An 8-character random password, particularly when generated without sufficient entropy or cryptographic randomness, can be successfully brute-forced using modern computational resources. The vulnerability specifically relates to the session management system where session identifiers are stored in cookies, making them accessible to local users who can extract these identifiers and attempt to authenticate using the weakly generated passwords. This weakness creates a direct pathway for attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to account compromise and potential privilege escalation. Attackers who successfully brute-force the weak passwords can gain access to user sessions, potentially allowing them to impersonate legitimate users and perform actions within the application with those users' permissions. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where Slashcode 2.0 is deployed and where local users have access to system resources that could allow them to extract session cookies from memory or disk. The attack vector combines both password brute-forcing and session cookie extraction, making it particularly dangerous in environments with insufficient access controls.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with multiple CWE classifications including CWE-1047, which deals with weak session identifiers, and CWE-326, which addresses inadequate encryption strength. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK techniques such as T1110.003 for credential stuffing and T1566.001 for phishing, as the weak password generation creates conditions that make credential compromise more likely. Organizations using Slashcode 2.0 should implement immediate mitigations including strengthening password generation algorithms to use cryptographically secure random number generators, implementing proper session management with secure cookie attributes, and deploying additional access controls to prevent local users from accessing session data. The recommended approach involves upgrading to newer versions of the software that address these session management weaknesses and implementing proper security controls such as account lockout mechanisms and multi-factor authentication to prevent successful brute-force attacks.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure session management and proper password generation in web applications, particularly in legacy systems like Slashcode 2.0 that may not have been designed with modern security requirements in mind. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their legacy systems to identify similar weaknesses in authentication mechanisms and session handling that could create similar attack vectors. The remediation process should include not only updating the vulnerable software but also implementing proper security monitoring to detect and respond to unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for security awareness and proper implementation of cryptographic best practices in all aspects of web application development and deployment.