CVE-2004-2689 in newsPHP
Summary
by MITRE
NewsPHP allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized administrative access by setting a cookie to the "autorized=admin; root=admin" value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-2689 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in the NewsPHP application that enables remote attackers to escalate privileges without proper authorization. This issue stems from improper input validation and insecure cookie handling mechanisms within the application's authentication system. The vulnerability specifically exploits the application's failure to properly validate cookie values, allowing attackers to manipulate session tokens to assume administrative privileges. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insecure authentication implementation where the system relies on client-side cookie values without adequate server-side verification, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of HTTP cookies to achieve privilege escalation. When an attacker sets the cookie value to "autorized=admin; root=admin", the application incorrectly interprets these values as legitimate authentication credentials, bypassing normal authentication checks. This occurs because NewsPHP fails to properly validate or sanitize cookie data before processing it as authentication tokens. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to forge administrative sessions by simply modifying cookie values, which represents a fundamental breakdown in the application's security model. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring any prior authentication or specialized tools beyond basic web browser capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it grants attackers complete administrative control over the NewsPHP application. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they gain access to all administrative functions including user management, content modification, system configuration changes, and potentially access to sensitive data stored within the application. This level of access can lead to data breaches, unauthorized content manipulation, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within the network if the application server is part of a larger infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can leverage this flaw from anywhere on the internet, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering. The flaw represents a classic example of how insecure session management can lead to privilege escalation and unauthorized access. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization of all cookie values, enforce strict authentication mechanisms, and implement proper session management practices. Mitigation strategies include validating all cookie data server-side, implementing secure session handling, using proper authentication tokens, and ensuring that administrative privileges require multiple factors of authentication rather than simple cookie manipulation. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in web applications.
This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper authentication design and the dangers of relying on client-side data for security decisions. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly simple authentication bypass techniques can have devastating consequences when applications fail to properly validate user inputs and session data. Organizations must prioritize secure coding practices and implement robust authentication mechanisms that do not depend on easily manipulable client-side values. The vulnerability also underscores the need for comprehensive security testing including penetration testing and code review processes to identify authentication-related flaws before they can be exploited by malicious actors.