CVE-2004-2715 in phpMyChat
Summary
by MITRE
edituser.php3 in PHPMyChat 0.14.5 allow remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrative privileges by setting the do_not_login parameter to false.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2715 resides within PHPMyChat version 0.14.5 and represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that could enable remote attackers to escalate privileges and gain administrative access to the application. This vulnerability specifically affects the edituser.php3 script which handles user management operations within the chat system. The flaw manifests when an attacker manipulates the do_not_login parameter, a variable that should normally control login behavior but can be exploited to circumvent the authentication mechanism entirely.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameter handling within the PHPMyChat application. The do_not_login parameter, when set to false, should typically prevent automatic login or enforce additional authentication steps. However, the flawed implementation allows attackers to manipulate this parameter in a way that bypasses the normal authentication flow and grants administrative privileges without proper credentials. This represents a classic case of insecure parameter handling that violates fundamental security principles of authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables remote code execution and complete administrative control over the affected PHPMyChat instance. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to modify user accounts, delete chat records, access sensitive data, and potentially use the compromised system as a foothold for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or local network presence to leverage this flaw, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible environments. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and falls under the ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts, as it allows unauthorized access through legitimate administrative accounts.
The security implications extend beyond immediate privilege escalation, as this vulnerability could be combined with other attack vectors to create more sophisticated exploitation chains. Organizations running affected versions of PHPMyChat face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized modifications to chat content, and potential use as a pivot point for attacking other systems within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and parameter sanitization in web applications, particularly those handling user authentication and privilege management functions. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest stable version of PHPMyChat, disabling unnecessary administrative functions, and monitoring for suspicious login patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability exemplifies the dangers of legacy web applications that have not received proper security updates over time. The flaw represents a failure in the security development lifecycle where proper authentication mechanisms were not adequately tested for parameter manipulation attacks. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that PHPMyChat was designed as a web-based chat application and likely deployed in environments where security monitoring might be minimal. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and security headers as additional protective measures while ensuring that all web applications undergo regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar flaws before they can be exploited by malicious actors.