CVE-2004-1605 in SalesLogix
Summary
by MITRE
SalesLogix 6.1 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication by modifying the slxweb cookie to set user=Admin, teams=ADMIN!, and usertype=Administrator.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1605 affects SalesLogix 6.1, a customer relationship management platform that was widely deployed in enterprise environments during the early 2000s. This authentication bypass flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows remote attackers to gain administrative privileges without proper credentials. The vulnerability specifically targets the web-based authentication mechanism of the SalesLogix application, which was designed to manage user access through cookie-based session handling. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper authentication checks within the web interface, creating an exploitable condition that directly compromises the application's security model. Organizations relying on this version of SalesLogix were particularly vulnerable as the issue affected the core authentication process that protected sensitive business data and administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves manipulating the slxweb cookie that the application uses to maintain user sessions and track authentication status. Attackers can simply modify three specific cookie parameters to achieve unauthorized access: setting user=Admin to impersonate an administrative account, teams=ADMIN! to establish proper team membership, and usertype=Administrator to define the user type as privileged. This cookie manipulation technique exploits a design flaw where the application does not adequately validate the integrity of these authentication parameters before accepting them as legitimate. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed remotely by anyone who can intercept or modify web traffic. This type of flaw falls under CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, specifically focusing on the lack of proper validation of authentication tokens and session identifiers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the SalesLogix application. With administrative privileges, attackers can modify customer data, access sensitive business information, create or modify user accounts, and potentially escalate their access to underlying database systems. The vulnerability affects organizations that store critical customer relationship data, financial information, and business intelligence within the SalesLogix platform, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking to exploit enterprise data. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can leverage this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the network or direct system compromise. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation tactics, specifically targeting the use of stolen or manipulated credentials to gain elevated system access.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of defense to protect their SalesLogix installations. The primary mitigation involves applying the vendor-supplied security patches and updates that address the authentication bypass flaw. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to the SalesLogix web interface, limiting exposure to only trusted network segments. Additionally, organizations should implement robust monitoring of cookie modifications and authentication attempts to detect suspicious activity. The implementation of secure session management practices, including the use of secure cookies with proper HttpOnly and Secure flags, can help prevent similar issues in future deployments. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify additional vulnerabilities within the application and network infrastructure. Organizations should also consider implementing network intrusion detection systems that can identify and alert on suspicious cookie manipulation patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper authentication design and input validation, emphasizing that all authentication parameters should be validated server-side rather than relying solely on client-side cookie values. This incident serves as a critical reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and the potential consequences of insufficient authentication controls in enterprise applications.