CVE-2004-1780 in Surfnet
Summary
by MITRE
Info Touch Surfnet kiosk allows local users to deposit extra time into Internet kiosk accounts via repeated authentication attempts.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1780 affects the Info Touch Surfnet kiosk system, representing a significant security flaw in internet kiosk account management mechanisms. This issue resides within the authentication process of kiosk systems that control user access and time allocation for internet usage. The vulnerability specifically targets the way the system handles repeated authentication attempts, creating an exploitable condition that allows local users to manipulate account balances through legitimate authentication sequences. Such systems are commonly deployed in public access environments including libraries, internet cafes, and corporate lobbies where controlled internet access is required.
The technical flaw manifests in the insufficient validation and state management during authentication sequences within the Surfnet kiosk software. When users repeatedly attempt to authenticate, the system fails to properly track or limit the cumulative effect of these attempts on account time allocation. This represents a classic case of improper input validation and insufficient access control mechanisms, aligning with CWE-603 which addresses the use of insecure or untrusted input sources. The vulnerability exploits the lack of proper rate limiting and transactional integrity controls that should prevent duplicate or excessive authentication events from affecting account balances. The system does not properly implement session management or authentication attempt counters that would normally prevent such abuse scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple time manipulation, potentially enabling unauthorized access to extended internet usage privileges for extended periods. Local users who exploit this vulnerability can effectively bypass time restrictions and payment mechanisms that are fundamental to kiosk operation and revenue management. This creates a significant financial risk for organizations deploying such systems, as they may experience unauthorized usage that exceeds normal operational limits. The vulnerability also poses risks to system integrity and audit trails, as the manipulation of account balances through legitimate authentication attempts can obscure actual usage patterns and make proper accounting difficult. Organizations using these systems may face compliance issues related to proper access controls and financial accountability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust authentication attempt limiting and account balance validation mechanisms. System administrators should deploy proper session management controls that track authentication attempts and prevent cumulative time additions from repeated successful logins. The implementation of transactional integrity controls and proper input validation would prevent the exploitation of this flaw. Organizations should also consider implementing logging and monitoring mechanisms that can detect unusual authentication patterns and account balance changes. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which addresses valid accounts and credential manipulation, as it exploits legitimate authentication processes to achieve unauthorized system access. Regular security assessments and proper patch management for kiosk software components are essential to prevent exploitation of similar authentication-related vulnerabilities in networked systems.