CVE-2002-1758 in PHProjekt
Summary
by MITRE
PHProjekt 2.0 through 3.1 allows remote attackers to view or modify data via requests to certain scripts that do not verify if the user is logged in.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1758 affects PHProjekt versions 2.0 through 3.1, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that enables remote attackers to access and manipulate sensitive data without proper user authentication. This issue stems from inadequate session management and authentication verification mechanisms within the application's core scripts, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability specifically targets scripts that fail to implement proper login verification checks, allowing malicious actors to craft requests that bypass the normal authentication flow and directly access or modify data within the system.
This security weakness manifests as a failure in the application's access control implementation, where the system does not adequately validate user credentials or session state before processing requests. The flaw operates at the application logic level, where certain scripts assume that all incoming requests are legitimate and proceed with data operations without verifying user authentication status. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of insufficient authentication checks and can be classified as a CWE-287 issue related to improper authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for both information disclosure and data modification capabilities, providing attackers with comprehensive access to the application's functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates opportunities for data integrity compromise and potential system exploitation. Attackers can leverage this flaw to view confidential project information, user data, and system configurations without proper authorization, potentially leading to information leakage that could expose sensitive business or personal information. Additionally, the ability to modify data means that attackers could alter project records, user permissions, or system configurations, potentially causing operational disruption or creating backdoors for persistent access. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts usage, as attackers can exploit this flaw to maintain access without requiring additional credential compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust authentication verification across all application scripts and ensuring proper session management. The most effective approach involves adding comprehensive login verification checks to all data access and modification endpoints, requiring proper authentication tokens or session identifiers before processing any user requests. Developers should implement centralized authentication routines that validate user credentials and session state before granting access to protected resources. Additionally, the application should enforce proper access control lists and implement proper input validation to prevent unauthorized script execution. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities, and the system should be updated to newer versions of PHProjekt that address these security concerns. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious authentication attempts and limit access to critical application components.