CVE-2003-1255 in Active PHP Bookmarks
Summary
by MITRE
add_bookmark.php in Active PHP Bookmarks (APB) 1.1.01 allows remote attackers to add arbitrary bookmarks as other users using a modified auth_user_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1255 affects Active PHP Bookmarks version 1.1.01, specifically within the add_bookmark.php component of this web application. This represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate user session data and create bookmarks on behalf of other users. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper authentication mechanism implementation within the application's bookmark management functionality.
The technical flaw manifests through the manipulation of the auth_user_id parameter, which is typically used to identify the authenticated user within the application's session management system. When attackers modify this parameter value in the request to add a bookmark, the application fails to properly validate whether the requesting user has legitimate authorization to perform actions on behalf of the specified user account. This parameter validation failure constitutes a classic case of insecure direct object reference vulnerability, which maps to CWE-639 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The weakness occurs because the application directly uses user-supplied input without proper authorization checks to verify that the requesting user can act on behalf of the target user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple bookmark manipulation, as it demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in the application's access control mechanisms. An attacker can leverage this flaw to inject malicious bookmarks into other users' bookmark collections, potentially leading to phishing attacks, social engineering campaigns, or the propagation of malicious links. The vulnerability enables privilege escalation within the application's user context, allowing unauthorized users to perform actions that should be restricted to legitimate owners of those accounts. This type of vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and persistence tactics, where attackers establish footholds within user contexts to maintain long-term access.
The security implications of CVE-2003-1255 are particularly concerning given the nature of bookmark applications, which often serve as entry points for more sophisticated attacks. When users access bookmarks from other accounts, they may inadvertently be directed to malicious websites or exposed to content that could compromise their systems. This vulnerability essentially allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users within the application's ecosystem, undermining the trust model that such bookmarking systems are designed to maintain. The flaw also exposes potential data integrity issues, as malicious bookmarks could contain harmful content that gets executed when other users access the bookmarked resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and authentication checks within the application's core functionality. The most effective approach involves ensuring that all user actions are properly authenticated and authorized before execution, with the application verifying that the requesting user has legitimate rights to perform operations on behalf of the target user. Implementing proper session management practices, including secure token generation and validation, would prevent unauthorized parameter manipulation. Additionally, the application should enforce strict access control policies where each user can only modify resources that belong to their own account or where they have explicit authorization to do so. The implementation of parameterized queries and input sanitization would further protect against similar vulnerabilities in the application's codebase.