CVE-2004-1847 in News Manager Lite
Summary
by MITRE
News Manager Lite 2.5 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrator privileges by setting the ADMIN parameter in the NEWS_LOGIN cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1847 affects News Manager Lite version 2.5, a web-based content management system designed for news publication and administration. This flaw represents a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that fundamentally undermines the security model of the application. The vulnerability resides in how the software processes authentication cookies, specifically the NEWS_LOGIN cookie structure and validation mechanisms. The issue allows unauthenticated attackers to escalate their privileges from regular user status to administrative level without proper credentials or authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insecure cookie handling within the application's authentication subsystem. When an attacker manipulates the ADMIN parameter within the NEWS_LOGIN cookie, the system fails to properly validate the authenticity of this parameter before granting administrative access. This represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference vulnerability where user-controllable parameters directly influence access control decisions. The flaw aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and specifically demonstrates weaknesses in authentication mechanisms that allow privilege escalation through manipulated session data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any organization utilizing News Manager Lite 2.5. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain complete administrative control over the news management system, including the ability to modify or delete news articles, add or remove users, change system configurations, and potentially access sensitive data stored within the application. This privilege escalation allows for persistent access to the system, enabling attackers to maintain control over the compromised environment and conduct further malicious activities. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without requiring any legitimate credentials, making it an attractive target for automated attacks.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to protect their systems. The primary remediation involves patching the application to version 2.5.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the authentication bypass vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement network-level controls such as firewall rules that restrict access to the application's administrative interfaces, particularly from untrusted networks. Input validation should be strengthened at the application level to ensure that cookie parameters are properly sanitized and authenticated before being processed. The implementation of proper session management practices, including secure cookie attributes and regular session invalidation, would further reduce the risk of exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious cookie manipulation attempts, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential harvesting through manipulation of authentication cookies.
The vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient validation of user-controllable input can lead to privilege escalation in web applications, highlighting the importance of defense-in-depth security measures. This flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, where system access controls are bypassed through manipulation of session data rather than proper authentication mechanisms. The security implications extend beyond immediate access control, as this vulnerability could potentially serve as a foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the network infrastructure. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on authentication mechanisms are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses in the broader software ecosystem.