CVE-2003-1454 in IP.Board
Summary
by MITRE
Invision Power Services Invision Board 1.0 through 1.1.1, when a forum is password protected, stores the administrator password in a cookie in plaintext, which could allow remote attackers to gain access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1454 represents a critical security flaw in Invision Power Services Invision Board versions 1.0 through 1.1.1 that fundamentally compromises the authentication mechanism of password-protected forums. This issue stems from the improper handling of administrative credentials within the web application's session management system, creating a persistent security risk that affects thousands of forum administrators who rely on this platform for community management.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's cookie-based authentication system where the administrator password is stored in plaintext format within browser cookies. This design decision directly violates fundamental security principles and creates an exploitable condition that allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized administrative access to protected forums. The vulnerability exists because the application fails to properly encrypt or obfuscate sensitive authentication data, instead storing it in a manner that makes it immediately accessible to any user who can intercept or access the cookie data.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates severe consequences for forum administrators and their communities. Attackers who can access the plaintext password stored in cookies can immediately assume administrative privileges without needing to perform additional authentication attempts or exploit other vulnerabilities. This allows malicious actors to modify forum content, delete posts, manipulate user permissions, and potentially gain access to sensitive user data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, making it attractive to both novice and experienced attackers. The risk is amplified by the fact that many forum administrators may not be aware that their credentials are stored in plaintext, leaving them vulnerable to attacks that could go undetected for extended periods.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-522 (CWE-522: Insufficiently Protected Credentials), both of which address the improper handling of sensitive data in web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can leverage the stored credentials to obtain persistent access to the system. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to patched versions of the Invision Board software, implementing proper cookie security attributes such as HttpOnly and Secure flags, and educating administrators about the importance of secure credential storage practices. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious cookie access patterns, and administrators should be advised to regularly rotate administrative credentials and implement additional authentication layers such as two-factor authentication to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of secure session management and proper credential handling in web applications, particularly those managing sensitive community data.