CVE-2002-1428 in dotProject
Summary
by MITRE
index.php in dotProject 0.2.1.5 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via a cookie or URL with the user_cookie parameter set to 1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1428 affects dotProject version 0.2.1.5, a web-based project management application that was widely used in enterprise environments during the early 2000s. This authentication bypass flaw represents a critical security weakness that could allow unauthorized users to gain access to protected system resources without proper credentials. The vulnerability specifically resides in the index.php file, which serves as the primary entry point for the application's web interface and handles user authentication processes.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of the user_cookie parameter within the application's authentication mechanism. When an attacker manipulates the user_cookie parameter to a value of 1, either through cookie manipulation or URL parameter injection, the system bypasses its normal authentication checks. This occurs because the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the user_cookie input before using it to determine authentication status. The vulnerability stems from a lack of input validation and inadequate access control mechanisms that should have verified the legitimacy of authentication tokens before granting system access.
From an operational perspective, this authentication bypass vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations using dotProject 0.2.1.5. An attacker could exploit this weakness to access sensitive project data, modify user permissions, manipulate project timelines, and potentially gain administrative control over the entire system. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it could lead to data breaches, project manipulation, and disruption of business operations. Given that dotProject was commonly used for managing critical business projects, this vulnerability could have resulted in substantial financial and operational losses for affected organizations.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and represents a classic example of weak session management and authentication bypass. From an attacker's perspective, this flaw maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which involves valid account exploitation through credential manipulation. The ease of exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it requires minimal technical skill to implement and can be automated through simple web requests or browser manipulation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1428 should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameter sanitization within the application's authentication code. Organizations should immediately patch to a newer version of dotProject that addresses this vulnerability, as version 0.2.1.5 is considered obsolete and no longer receives security updates. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper access control lists, validating all authentication parameters through server-side validation, and establishing robust session management practices. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, though the most effective solution remains the immediate patching of the vulnerable application version.