CVE-2004-2087 in Sandsurfer
Summary
by MITRE
Unknown vulnerability in SandSurfer before 1.7.0 allows remote attackers to gain access as a logged-in user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2087 represents a significant security flaw within the SandSurfer web browser software prior to version 1.7.0. This issue falls under the category of authentication bypass vulnerabilities that could potentially allow remote attackers to escalate their privileges and operate with elevated access rights. The vulnerability stems from inadequate session management and authentication mechanisms within the browser's architecture, creating a pathway for malicious actors to impersonate legitimate users without proper authorization. SandSurfer, being a web browser application, would typically require robust security measures to protect user sessions and prevent unauthorized access to web resources. The flaw manifests in the browser's inability to properly validate user credentials or maintain secure session states, which creates a persistent security gap that attackers can exploit.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability likely involves weaknesses in how the browser handles authentication tokens, session cookies, or user state management. Attackers could potentially manipulate session identifiers or exploit flaws in the authentication flow to assume the identity of logged-in users. This type of vulnerability commonly maps to CWE-305 Authentication Bypass and CWE-306 Authentication Bypass by Default, where the software fails to properly authenticate users or maintains insecure authentication states. The operational impact of such a vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it could enable attackers to perform actions with the privileges of legitimate users, potentially leading to data theft, account compromise, or further network infiltration. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors do not require physical access to the target system or network, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where browser-based applications are commonly used.
From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing tactics, where adversaries can leverage compromised credentials to maintain persistent access. The vulnerability could be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious web pages, compromised websites, or network-based attacks that manipulate browser session states. Organizations using SandSurfer versions prior to 1.7.0 would be particularly vulnerable to coordinated attacks targeting their web browsing environments, as the flaw affects the fundamental security mechanisms that protect user sessions and prevent unauthorized access. The impact extends to both individual users and enterprise environments where browser-based applications are prevalent, as successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of user accounts and potential lateral movement within networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-2087 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates to version 1.7.0 or later, which would contain the fixed authentication mechanisms and session management controls. Network administrators should implement additional security measures including web application firewalls, session monitoring, and regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper session management practices, including secure cookie attributes, session timeout mechanisms, and regular session invalidation procedures. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security reviews of their browser deployment environments and ensure that all software components are kept up to date with the latest security patches. Additionally, user education regarding suspicious web content and phishing attempts remains crucial in preventing exploitation of such vulnerabilities, as attackers may attempt to combine this authentication bypass with social engineering tactics to maximize their impact.