CVE-2002-0226 in DCForum
Summary
by MITRE
retrieve_password.pl in DCForum 6.x and 2000 generates predictable new passwords based on a sessionID, which allows remote attackers to request a new password on behalf of another user and use the sessionID to calculate the new password for that user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0226 affects DCForum version 6.x and 2000, specifically targeting the retrieve_password.pl script that handles password reset functionality. This weakness represents a critical security flaw in the authentication system design that undermines user account security and access controls. The vulnerability stems from the predictable password generation mechanism that relies on session identifiers, creating a direct pathway for unauthorized password manipulation.
The technical flaw involves the insecure generation of temporary passwords in the password recovery process where the system uses session identifiers as a predictable component in password calculation. When a user requests a password reset, the system generates a new password that can be mathematically derived from the sessionID, eliminating the security benefit of random password generation. This predictable pattern violates fundamental security principles for password handling and demonstrates poor cryptographic implementation practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to perform account takeover attacks without requiring authentication credentials. An attacker can request password resets for arbitrary user accounts and then calculate the resulting passwords using the predictable algorithm based on session identifiers. This vulnerability directly maps to attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the credential stuffing and password reuse attack vectors.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-330 use of weak entropy in password generation, which occurs when systems use predictable or insufficiently random methods for generating passwords or session tokens. This weakness creates a direct attack surface that allows adversaries to bypass normal authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to user accounts. The predictable nature of the password generation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it enables automated attack scenarios that can target multiple accounts simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing cryptographically secure random number generation for password creation, eliminating the reliance on session identifiers for password calculation, and implementing proper session management controls. Organizations should ensure that password reset mechanisms use strong entropy sources and that session identifiers are not incorporated into password generation algorithms. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms can help prevent automated exploitation attempts. The fix should align with security standards such as NIST SP 800-63B for password management and authentication system design best practices.