CVE-2004-1647 in Password Protect
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Password Protect allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL statements and bypass authentication via (1) admin or Pass parameter to index_next.asp, (2) LoginId, OPass, or NPass to CPassChangePassword.asp, (3) users_edit.asp, or (4) users_add.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the password protect component that affects multiple asp pages within the application. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization of user-supplied parameters, allowing remote attackers to inject malicious sql code directly into the application's database queries. The affected parameters include admin and pass in index_next.asp, as well as LoginId, OPass, and NPass in CPassChangePassword.asp, along with the users_edit.asp and users_add.asp pages. This vulnerability directly maps to cwe-89 sql injection which is classified as a persistent threat vector in the common weakness enumeration catalog. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it targets authentication mechanisms and user management functions, providing attackers with potential access to sensitive user data and system privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user input is directly concatenated into sql queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. Attackers can craft malicious input strings that alter the intended sql query execution flow, potentially allowing them to bypass authentication checks, retrieve unauthorized data, or even execute destructive database operations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can enable full administrative access to the application's user management system. When an attacker successfully injects sql code through the vulnerable parameters, they can manipulate the underlying database to perform unauthorized operations such as user account creation, privilege escalation, or data modification. This represents a fundamental failure in input validation practices and violates core security principles of least privilege and input sanitization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, particularly in environments where the application handles sensitive user credentials and authentication data. Successful exploitation can result in complete compromise of user accounts, unauthorized access to protected resources, and potential data breaches. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple asp pages indicates a systemic design flaw in the application's security architecture, suggesting that similar vulnerabilities may exist in other components. Organizations relying on this software may experience unauthorized access to user databases, leading to identity theft, privilege abuse, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent access through user account manipulation or creation of backdoor accounts, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper parameterized queries and input validation across all affected pages. The primary remediation involves replacing direct string concatenation of user input with parameterized sql queries that separate the sql command structure from the data. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization routines that filter out potentially malicious characters and sequences, particularly those commonly used in sql injection attacks such as single quotes, semicolons, and comment markers. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms can limit the damage if exploitation occurs, while regular security audits and code reviews can identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. The implementation of web application firewalls and sql injection detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against such attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege, ensuring that database accounts used by the application have minimal required permissions to reduce potential damage from successful exploitation. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to established security frameworks that address common attack vectors like sql injection.