CVE-2002-1087 in ezContents
Summary
by MITRE
The scripts (1) createdir.php, (2) removedir.php and (3) uploadfile.php for ezContents 1.41 and earlier do not check credentials, which allows remote attackers to create or delete directories and upload files via a direct HTTP POST request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1087 affects ezContents version 1.41 and earlier, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of the web application. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and authentication checks within three specific PHP scripts that handle directory operations and file uploads. The affected scripts include createdirphp, removedirphp, and uploadfilephp, which together form the core functionality for managing content within the ezContents platform. These scripts are designed to perform administrative operations but fail to implement proper access controls, creating a significant security gap that exposes the system to unauthorized manipulation.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of credential verification mechanisms within the vulnerable scripts, allowing any remote attacker to directly submit HTTP POST requests to execute administrative functions without proper authentication. This represents a classic authorization bypass vulnerability that falls under the CWE-285 category of Improper Authorization, specifically addressing the failure to enforce proper access controls for privileged operations. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform directory creation and deletion operations, as well as file uploads, all through direct HTTP requests that bypass normal user authentication flows. This weakness essentially provides attackers with a backdoor to manipulate the application's file system structure and potentially execute malicious code through uploaded files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to the application's file system and potentially escalate their privileges within the compromised environment. Remote attackers can create malicious directories to store harmful files, delete existing directories to disrupt application functionality, and upload files that may contain malware or exploit payloads. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to leverage compromised credentials or create new unauthorized access points. The implications extend beyond simple file manipulation, as attackers could potentially establish persistent access, deploy web shells, or use the upload functionality to compromise the entire hosting environment. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk to data integrity and availability, as unauthorized users can alter the application's operational structure and potentially cause service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the core authorization issues by implementing proper authentication checks within all administrative scripts. Organizations should immediately patch the ezContents application to a version that includes proper credential validation and access control mechanisms. The recommended approach involves enforcing strict authentication requirements for all administrative operations, implementing session management controls, and ensuring that all HTTP requests to sensitive endpoints are properly validated. Security measures should include input sanitization, request validation, and logging of all administrative activities to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict direct access to administrative scripts, while regular security audits should verify that no similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities exist within the application or its dependencies. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper access control implementation and the need for comprehensive security testing of web applications before deployment.