CVE-2005-0408 in CitrusDB
Summary
by MITRE
CitrusDB 0.3.6 and earlier generates easily predictable MD5 hashes of the user name for the id_hash cookie, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain privileges by calculating the MD5 checksum of the user name combined with the "boogaadeeboo" string, which is hard-coded in the $hidden_hash variable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0408 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in CitrusDB versions 0.3.6 and earlier. This issue stems from a fundamental weakness in the cookie generation mechanism that relies on predictable cryptographic hashing. The system employs MD5 hashing to create identification tokens for user sessions, but fails to implement proper randomness or salted hashing techniques. The flaw becomes particularly dangerous because the system uses a hard-coded string "boogaadeeboo" as part of the hashing process, making the entire system vulnerable to pre-computation attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the generation of id_hash cookies through a deterministic process that combines user names with a fixed secret value. When CitrusDB creates these authentication tokens, it does not incorporate sufficient entropy or randomization elements that would make the resulting MD5 hashes unpredictable. The hard-coded nature of the "boogaadeeboo" string means that any attacker who can observe a valid id_hash cookie can reverse-engineer the authentication process by simply calculating the MD5 checksum of any username combined with this known string. This predictable pattern violates fundamental security principles for cryptographic token generation and creates a direct pathway for unauthorized access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to completely bypass the authentication system without requiring valid credentials or knowledge of user passwords. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated using readily available tools for MD5 computation. Once an attacker successfully calculates the appropriate hash value, they can impersonate any user account within the system, potentially gaining administrative privileges and full access to sensitive data. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of the affected system, as it allows unauthorized access to protected resources and user information.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and CWE-310, which covers cryptographic issues related to key management and entropy. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this issue corresponds to T1110.003, which involves credential access through brute force or password guessing, but in this case, the attack is more sophisticated as it leverages predictable hash generation rather than traditional brute force methods. The implementation of proper security controls should include the use of cryptographically secure random number generators, proper salted hashing techniques, and the avoidance of hard-coded secrets in authentication systems. Organizations should implement time-based token generation, use of strong cryptographic algorithms like SHA-256, and regular security audits to prevent similar vulnerabilities in authentication mechanisms. The remediation process requires immediate patching of the affected CitrusDB versions and implementation of proper session management protocols that incorporate sufficient entropy and avoid predictable cryptographic patterns.