CVE-2004-1878 in Linbox Officeserver
Summary
by MITRE
LINBOX LIN:BOX allows remote attackers to bypass authentication, obtain sensitive information, or gain access via a direct request to admin/user.pl preceded by // (double leading slash).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1878 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in the LINBOX LIN:BOX web application. This issue stems from improper handling of URL paths where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize input containing double leading slashes. The vulnerability specifically affects the admin/user.pl script which serves as an administrative interface for the system. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious request with a double leading slash followed by the target script path, the application processes this request without proper authentication checks, effectively allowing unauthorized access to administrative functions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. The system's failure to properly validate the URL path allows an attacker to manipulate the request structure in a way that bypasses the normal authentication flow. This occurs because the web application does not properly canonicalize or sanitize the input path, allowing the double slash sequence to be interpreted as a valid path traversal mechanism. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through standard HTTP requests without requiring any special privileges or tools beyond basic network connectivity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, encompassing authentication bypass, information disclosure, and unauthorized system access. An attacker can exploit this flaw to gain administrative privileges without proper credentials, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The ability to directly access the admin/user.pl script means that unauthorized users can perform administrative functions such as user management, system configuration changes, and data access. Additionally, the vulnerability may enable attackers to extract sensitive information from the system, including user credentials, system configurations, and potentially confidential data stored within the application. This vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor into the administrative interface, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate their privileges.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that it allows remote exploitation without requiring any initial compromise or access to valid credentials. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation on all web application paths, proper URL canonicalization, and enforcement of strict authentication checks regardless of request path structure. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block malicious requests containing double slash sequences. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input sanitization and path validation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive administrative functions. This issue serves as a reminder of how seemingly simple path handling flaws can create significant security risks when not properly addressed through defensive programming practices and security controls.