CVE-2002-1462 in PHP-affiliate
Summary
by MITRE
details2.php in OrganicPHP PHP-affiliate 1.0, and possibly later versions, allows remote attackers to modify information of other users by modifying certain hidden form fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1462 represents a critical access control flaw within the OrganicPHP PHP-affiliate 1.0 web application ecosystem. This issue manifests in the details2.php script where improper input validation and lack of proper authentication checks allow malicious actors to manipulate hidden form fields. The flaw enables unauthorized users to modify user information belonging to other accounts, fundamentally compromising the application's user integrity and data protection mechanisms. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from insufficient server-side validation of user inputs and inadequate session management practices that fail to verify the authenticity of requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's reliance on hidden form fields to maintain user context and track ownership of data modifications. When these fields are not properly validated or secured on the server side, attackers can craft malicious requests that alter the values of these hidden parameters. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically the category of insufficient access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized modifications to system resources. The flaw operates at the application layer where client-side data integrity checks are bypassed, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in the principle of least privilege enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification to encompass potential identity theft, unauthorized account takeovers, and complete compromise of user trust within the affiliate system. Attackers can exploit this weakness to impersonate legitimate users, modify their commission records, alter personal information, or even gain administrative privileges if the application architecture permits such escalation. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it enables adversaries to leverage existing user accounts for unauthorized access and data manipulation. The consequences are particularly severe in affiliate marketing environments where financial transactions and user data are paramount.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of robust server-side validation mechanisms, proper session management, and comprehensive input sanitization. Organizations should enforce strict access control policies where every modification request is verified against the authenticated user's permissions and session context. The solution involves implementing proper parameter validation that cannot be bypassed through client-side manipulation, utilizing secure session tokens, and ensuring that all form data is validated server-side regardless of its origin. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should focus on identifying similar patterns where client-side data is trusted without proper server-side verification, as this vulnerability represents a classic example of trusting client-side controls for critical security functions.