CVE-2002-1748 in Slashcode
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in Slash 2.1.x and 2.2 through 2.2.2, as used in Slashcode, allows remote authenticated users to gain access to arbitrary accounts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1748 represents a critical access control flaw within the Slash content management system version 2.1.x and 2.2 through 2.2.2. This issue affects the Slashcode platform, which was widely used for creating and managing web content, particularly within news and community websites. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern user account access within the system.
This security flaw stems from improper validation of user permissions and session management within the Slashcode framework. The technical implementation fails to adequately verify whether authenticated users possess the necessary privileges to access specific accounts or perform administrative functions. The vulnerability allows an attacker who has already established authentication credentials to exploit a logic flaw that enables them to escalate their privileges and access accounts belonging to other users within the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the Slash platform. Remote authenticated users can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to arbitrary user accounts, potentially accessing sensitive information, modifying content, or even assuming administrative control over the entire system. This type of privilege escalation vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the legitimate authentication flow, making it difficult to detect through standard security monitoring mechanisms.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues where systems fail to properly enforce access restrictions. It also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access. The flaw demonstrates how insufficient input validation and privilege checking can create pathways for unauthorized access within web applications. Organizations using affected versions of Slashcode were particularly vulnerable as this issue allowed attackers to bypass normal user account boundaries and access data that should have been restricted to specific user groups.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1748 require immediate patching of the affected Slashcode versions to address the underlying access control implementation. System administrators should implement strict access control policies and regularly audit user permissions to detect any unauthorized account access. Network segmentation and monitoring of authentication events can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in their web applications. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper session management and privilege validation in web-based content management systems.