CVE-2002-1734 in NewsPro
Summary
by MITRE
NewsPro 1.01 allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized administrator access by setting their authentication cookie to "logged,true".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2018
CVE-2002-1734 represents a critical authentication bypass vulnerability in NewsPro version 1.01 that fundamentally compromises the security posture of affected systems. This vulnerability resides in the application's session management and authentication mechanisms, where the software fails to properly validate user credentials before granting administrative privileges. The flaw manifests as a simple yet devastating weakness in the authentication flow, allowing any remote attacker to assume administrator rights merely by manipulating a single cookie value. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication cookie mechanism, where the application relies on client-side cookie values to determine user roles rather than implementing proper server-side validation of credentials. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts with compromised credentials. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insecure session management where the system trusts client-provided data without verification, creating an authentication bypass that can be exploited without requiring any valid login credentials or knowledge of legitimate user accounts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal effort and provides maximum impact, making it particularly dangerous in production environments. Attackers need only craft a malicious HTTP cookie header with the value "logged,true" to gain administrative access to the NewsPro application. This vulnerability exists because the application does not implement proper input validation or server-side session verification mechanisms. The system accepts the cookie value at face value without performing any cryptographic verification or credential checking, effectively trusting the user's claim of administrative status. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through various means including web browser manipulation, custom HTTP requests, or automated attack tools. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a complete breakdown in the application's access control mechanisms, allowing unauthorized users to perform administrative functions such as modifying content, managing users, and accessing sensitive system configurations.
The operational impact of CVE-2002-1734 extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the affected NewsPro system. Once exploited, attackers can modify or delete content, create new administrative accounts, alter system configurations, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the application's data and services, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on NewsPro for content management. Organizations may face reputational damage, regulatory compliance issues, and potential legal consequences due to unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability also increases the attack surface for other potential exploits, as administrators often have elevated privileges that can be leveraged for additional compromise. Given that this vulnerability affects a content management system, the impact could include defacement of web content, data exfiltration, and potential use as a staging area for further attacks against the broader network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1734 must address both the immediate vulnerability and broader security architecture issues. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper authentication validation mechanisms that verify user credentials server-side rather than relying on client-provided cookie values. Organizations should upgrade to a patched version of NewsPro that properly implements session management and authentication verification. Security controls should include input validation for all cookie values, implementation of secure session tokens with proper cryptographic signing, and enforcement of server-side credential verification before granting administrative privileges. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls and implement monitoring for suspicious cookie manipulation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Regular security assessments, code reviews, and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass issues in other applications. Organizations should also implement proper incident response procedures and conduct regular security awareness training for administrators to recognize and respond to potential exploitation attempts.