CVE-2004-2612 in BNC
Summary
by MITRE
BNC 2.9.0 only grants access when an incorrect password is provided, which allows remote attackers to use the functionality intended for authorized users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2612 affects BNC version 2.9.0, a popular proxy application designed to facilitate network connectivity and authentication for users accessing various services. This flaw represents a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that fundamentally undermines the security model of the application. The vulnerability manifests in a counterintuitive manner where the system grants access privileges when users provide incorrect authentication credentials rather than rejecting them as expected. This represents a classic example of improper access control implementation that violates fundamental security principles.
The technical flaw in BNC 2.9.0 stems from a faulty authentication logic implementation where the application's access control mechanism fails to properly validate user credentials. When an incorrect password is entered, the system incorrectly interprets this as a valid authentication attempt and grants access to functionality that should only be available to authorized users. This misconfiguration creates a scenario where unauthorized individuals can exploit the system's flawed logic to gain legitimate access privileges. The vulnerability operates at the application level within the authentication subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses all standard access control mechanisms that should normally prevent unauthorized access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security implications for organizations relying on BNC 2.9.0 for network connectivity and authentication management. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to network resources, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, and unauthorized network activities. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network presence to exploit the flaw. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, as the vulnerability allows attackers to obtain legitimate access through manipulated authentication flows. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as compromised systems can serve as launching points for further attacks within the network infrastructure.
The vulnerability demonstrates a clear violation of security principle 11 from the CWE taxonomy, which addresses improper access control mechanisms in software applications. This flaw represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture and highlights the importance of proper authentication logic implementation. Organizations using BNC 2.9.0 should immediately implement mitigations including updating to a patched version of the software, implementing additional access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The remediation process should involve thorough security testing of authentication mechanisms, implementation of proper input validation, and deployment of network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication as an additional layer of protection against similar vulnerabilities in other applications.
This vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of proper authentication logic implementation in security-critical applications. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly simple authentication mechanisms can contain complex security vulnerabilities that fundamentally compromise system integrity. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their authentication systems and ensure proper validation of all user credentials to prevent similar issues. The incident underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices and implementing proper access control mechanisms that align with established security frameworks and industry standards.