CVE-2004-0249 in PHPX
Summary
by MITRE
PHPX 2.0 through 3.2.4 allows remote attackers to gain access to other accounts by modifying the cookie s PXL variable to reference another userID.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0249 represents a critical session management flaw in PHPX versions 2.0 through 3.2.4 that fundamentally undermines the application's authentication and authorization mechanisms. This issue stems from improper handling of session identifiers within the application's cookie management system, specifically involving the s PXL variable that is intended to store user session information. The vulnerability operates under the principle of insecure session management as classified by CWE-613, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize session tokens, creating an avenue for unauthorized access to user accounts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker manipulates the s PXL cookie value to reference a different user ID, effectively impersonating another user within the system. This type of attack falls under the category of session hijacking and privilege escalation as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under technique T1548.001 for hijacking sessions and T1078 for valid accounts. The flaw exists because the application does not properly validate that the user ID referenced in the s PXL cookie corresponds to the authenticated user, allowing arbitrary modification of session data to gain unauthorized access to other accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching within the affected systems. Attackers can seamlessly switch between user accounts without proper authentication, potentially accessing sensitive data, modifying user profiles, or performing administrative functions depending on the privileges of the targeted accounts. This vulnerability directly compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the application's user data, as it allows unauthorized access to resources that should be restricted to specific authenticated users. The implications extend beyond individual account compromise to potential data breaches and unauthorized system modifications that could affect the entire user base.
The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of insufficient input validation and weak session management practices that were common in web applications of that era. Organizations using PHPX versions within the affected range face significant risk of unauthorized access to their user databases and potential escalation to full system compromise. The remediation strategy should focus on implementing proper session validation mechanisms, ensuring that session tokens are properly bound to authenticated users, and implementing secure session management practices. This includes proper session regeneration after authentication, validation of session data integrity, and implementing proper access controls that verify user permissions for each request. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and the need for robust session management frameworks that prevent such cookie manipulation attacks. Organizations should consider upgrading to supported versions of PHPX or implementing additional security controls such as secure cookie flags, proper session token generation, and monitoring for suspicious session activity patterns.