CVE-2002-0579 in Xpede
Summary
by MITRE
WorkforceROI Xpede 4.1 allows remote attackers to gain privileges as an Xpede administrator via a direct HTTP request to the /admin/adminproc.asp script, which does not prompt for a password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0579 represents a critical access control flaw in the WorkforceROI Xpede 4.1 application that exposes administrative functions without proper authentication mechanisms. This issue stems from a design flaw in the web application's security architecture where the administrative processing script /admin/adminproc.asp operates without requiring any form of authentication or authorization validation. The vulnerability exists within the application's web interface implementation and demonstrates poor security practices in the development lifecycle.
This represents a classic example of insufficient authentication vulnerability classified under CWE-287 which addresses improper handling of authentication tokens and credentials. The flaw allows any remote attacker to directly access administrative functions by simply crafting a specific HTTP request to the vulnerable endpoint. The absence of password prompts or session validation mechanisms creates an unauthenticated administrative access path that bypasses all intended security controls. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the authentication and authorization components of the web application's security model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the Xpede application instance. Once exploited, an attacker can manipulate all administrative functions including user management, system configuration changes, data modification, and potentially gain access to sensitive organizational information. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access or local system credentials to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials and privileges for lateral movement and persistence.
Organizations running WorkforceROI Xpede 4.1 are at significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and system compromise when this vulnerability remains unpatched. The attack surface is broad as the vulnerability affects any system accessible via HTTP and allows for complete administrative takeover. The exploitation process requires minimal technical skill since it only involves crafting a direct HTTP request to the vulnerable script. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to attackers and increases the likelihood of successful exploitation. Security teams should prioritize immediate remediation through patching or implementing compensating controls to prevent unauthorized administrative access.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the affected application to address the authentication bypass flaw, implementing proper access controls on administrative endpoints, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of the application's web interface. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to administrative functions to trusted networks only. Additionally, organizations should review their application security practices to prevent similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in other systems and ensure that all administrative functions require proper authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of implementing proper authentication controls and following secure coding practices throughout the application development lifecycle.