CVE-2003-0162 in Ecartis
Summary
by MITRE
Ecartis 1.0.0 (formerly listar) before snapshot 20030227 allows remote attackers to reset passwords of other users and gain privileges by modifying hidden form fields in the HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-0162 affects Ecartis 1.0.0, formerly known as listar, prior to the snapshot dated February 27, 2003. This represents a critical security flaw that stems from inadequate input validation and improper access control mechanisms within the web-based mailing list management system. The vulnerability specifically targets the password reset functionality of the application, creating a pathway for malicious actors to compromise user accounts and escalate their privileges within the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's handling of HTML form elements, particularly the manipulation of hidden form fields. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious HTTP requests that modify the hidden form fields present in the password reset interface. These hidden fields typically contain critical information such as user identifiers, privilege levels, or session tokens that should remain unchanged by end users. When the application processes these modified form fields without proper validation or authentication checks, it inadvertently accepts the attacker's modifications and executes the requested actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized password resets. Since the attack allows privilege escalation, malicious users could potentially modify administrative accounts or elevate their own privileges to gain full control over the mailing list system. This creates a cascading security risk where a single compromised account could lead to complete system takeover. The vulnerability also affects the integrity of user account management processes, potentially leading to data corruption, unauthorized access to mailing list archives, and disruption of legitimate user services.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation that enables privilege escalation attacks. The flaw demonstrates the importance of proper form field validation and authentication checks in web applications. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and credential access methods, specifically targeting the credential access phase where attackers seek to obtain valid credentials for unauthorized access. The attack vector utilizes web application exploitation techniques that have been documented in various security advisories and penetration testing frameworks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms that prevent modification of hidden form fields, enforcing strict authentication checks for all administrative functions, and implementing proper access control lists. Organizations should ensure that all form fields are properly validated server-side and that hidden fields are not relied upon for security purposes. Additionally, implementing proper session management, input sanitization, and regular security updates would effectively address this vulnerability. The recommended approach includes deploying web application firewalls, conducting regular security assessments, and ensuring that all users are running patched versions of the software to prevent exploitation of this known vulnerability.