CVE-2002-0522 in ASP-Nuke
Summary
by MITRE
ASP-Nuke RC2 and earlier allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain privileges by modifying the "pseudo" cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0522 affects ASP-Nuke versions RC2 and earlier, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that undermines the security posture of web applications built on this platform. This issue stems from improper handling of user authentication mechanisms within the application's cookie-based session management system. The vulnerability specifically targets the "pseudo" cookie parameter which is intended to store user identification information but fails to properly validate or sanitize input data, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized access to protected resources.
The technical flaw manifests through a lack of proper input validation and sanitization within the application's authentication routine. When users interact with the ASP-Nuke application, the system relies on cookie values to maintain session state and verify user identity. The "pseudo" cookie parameter, which should contain legitimate user identification data, can be manipulated by remote attackers to assume the identity of other users or gain administrative privileges. This weakness directly relates to CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization within authentication mechanisms, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation that enables privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete system compromise and data breaches. Attackers exploiting this flaw can bypass authentication entirely and gain access to administrative functions, user data, and sensitive system resources without proper authorization. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on cookie-based authentication mechanisms and demonstrates the critical importance of validating all user-supplied input within authentication flows. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise.
Organizations using ASP-Nuke RC2 or earlier versions should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest available version, implementing proper input validation for all cookie parameters, and strengthening authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through authentication bypass methods. Security measures should include monitoring for suspicious cookie modifications, implementing secure cookie attributes such as HttpOnly and Secure flags, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malformed cookie requests. Additionally, regular security audits of authentication mechanisms and input validation routines should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's infrastructure.