CVE-2002-0933 in BookIt! Consumer
Summary
by MITRE
Datalex PLC BookIt! Consumer before 2.2 stores usernames and passwords in plaintext in a cookie, which could allow remote attackers to gain privileges via Cross-site scripting or sniffing attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0933 represents a critical security flaw in Datalex PLC BookIt! Consumer software versions prior to 2.2. This issue stems from improper credential handling within the application's authentication mechanism, specifically in how session management is implemented. The flaw manifests when the system stores user authentication credentials in plaintext format within HTTP cookies, creating a persistent security risk that extends beyond the typical boundaries of session management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly encrypt or obfuscate sensitive authentication data during cookie creation. When users authenticate to the BookIt! Consumer application, their username and password are serialized into cookie data and transmitted to the client browser without any form of cryptographic protection. This plaintext storage directly violates fundamental security principles for credential management and creates multiple attack vectors for malicious actors. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it exists at the application layer where authentication credentials are handled, making it susceptible to interception through various network-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with multiple pathways to exploit the system. Remote attackers can leverage cross-site scripting vulnerabilities to execute malicious code within the victim's browser context, subsequently accessing the plaintext cookies containing user credentials. Additionally, network sniffing attacks can capture these cookies during transmission, allowing unauthorized parties to obtain valid authentication information. This dual attack surface significantly increases the exploitability of the vulnerability, as it requires no sophisticated techniques beyond basic network monitoring or simple XSS payload delivery. The consequences extend to complete account compromise and potential privilege escalation within the application's access control framework.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper handling of credentials in data storage or transmission. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential harvesting through phishing and social engineering attacks, as attackers can exploit the plaintext storage to obtain valid credentials for unauthorized access. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear failure in implementing proper security controls for session management and credential protection, which are fundamental requirements in secure application development practices. Organizations using affected versions of BookIt! Consumer face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through software updates to version 2.2 or later, which presumably addresses the plaintext credential storage issue. Additionally, implementing proper cookie security attributes such as HttpOnly and Secure flags can prevent client-side script access to authentication cookies, while cryptographic protection of sensitive data within cookies would eliminate the plaintext exposure. Network-level protections including intrusion detection systems and proper encryption protocols should be deployed to detect and prevent credential interception attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their application environments to identify similar credential storage vulnerabilities and implement comprehensive credential management policies that align with industry standards for secure authentication practices.