CVE-2002-2175 in phpSquidPass
Summary
by MITRE
phpSquidPass before 0.2 uses an incomplete regular expression to find a matching username in its database, which allows remote authenticated attackers to effectively delete other usernames via a short username that matches the end of the targeted username.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-2175 affects phpSquidPass versions prior to 0.2, representing a significant security flaw in authentication handling mechanisms. This issue stems from the application's use of an incomplete regular expression pattern when searching for matching usernames within its database. The flaw specifically manifests when processing user deletion requests, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the input username before performing database operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a fundamental weakness in string matching logic that relies on partial pattern matching rather than exact username verification. When an authenticated attacker submits a deletion request using a short username, the incomplete regular expression can match against the end portion of a targeted username, effectively allowing the attacker to delete accounts that contain their input as a suffix. This represents a classic example of improper input validation and inadequate sanitization of user-provided data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account deletion, as it creates a privilege escalation scenario where authenticated users can manipulate the system to remove other legitimate users' accounts. This undermines the integrity of the authentication system and can lead to denial of service conditions for other users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the database interaction level, where the attacker's actions directly affect the persistence layer of the application.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which covers "Improper Input Validation," and demonstrates how weak regular expression patterns can lead to unintended access control bypasses. The attack vector requires authentication, placing it within the scope of internal threat models where compromised accounts could be leveraged to target other users. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts," as it exploits legitimate authentication mechanisms to perform unauthorized actions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the phpSquidPass application to version 0.2 or later, where the regular expression matching has been properly implemented to ensure exact username matching. Organizations should implement additional input validation measures including length restrictions and character set validation for username fields. The fix should enforce exact string matching rather than partial pattern matching when performing database operations. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews to identify similar patterns in other applications and ensure that all database operations involving user identifiers include proper validation and sanitization measures. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and monitoring for deletion operations can help detect and prevent unauthorized account removal activities.