CVE-2004-2443 in Jaws
Summary
by MITRE
Jaws 0.3 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and via an HTTP request to admin.php with the logged cookie set to the MD5 hash of a null password, which is compared against the logged session variable by the logged_on function in application.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-2443 affects Jaws 0.3, a web application framework that suffered from a critical authentication bypass flaw. This issue stems from improper session validation mechanisms within the application's core authentication logic. The vulnerability specifically targets the logged_on function in application.php which performs authentication checks by comparing session variables against hardcoded or precomputed values. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting a specially formatted HTTP request to admin.php with a maliciously constructed cookie value.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's handling of session validation where the system accepts a null password hash as a valid authentication token. When an attacker sets the logged cookie to the MD5 hash of a null password, the application's logged_on function performs a direct comparison between this hash and the session variable without proper validation of the authentication context. This comparison bypasses the intended authentication flow and grants unauthorized administrative access to the application's administrative interface. The vulnerability represents a classic case of insecure session management and weak authentication validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote attackers to gain full administrative privileges without requiring legitimate credentials. This authentication bypass enables attackers to perform any administrative function within the application, including but not limited to user management, configuration changes, data manipulation, and potential system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without prior authentication, making it an attractive target for automated attacks and unauthorized access attempts.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access. The weakness demonstrates poor input validation and session management practices that are commonly exploited in web application attacks. Organizations using Jaws 0.3 should immediately implement mitigations including proper session validation, secure cookie handling, and robust authentication mechanisms. The recommended approach involves strengthening the session validation logic to reject null or precomputed hash values, implementing proper input sanitization, and ensuring that all authentication checks are performed against properly validated credentials rather than static hash comparisons. Additionally, the application should enforce secure session management practices including proper session regeneration and secure cookie attributes to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.