CVE-2005-0744 in iChain
Summary
by MITRE
The web GUI for Novell iChain 2.2 and 2.3 SP2 and SP3 allows attackers to hijack sessions and gain administrator privileges by (1) sniffing the connection on TCP port 51100 and replaying the authentication information or (2) obtaining and replaying the PCZQX02 authentication cookie from the browser.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-0744 represents a critical session hijacking flaw within the web graphical user interface of Novell iChain versions 2.2 and 2.3 SP2 and SP3. This security weakness fundamentally compromises the authentication mechanisms that protect administrative access to the system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient protection of authentication tokens and session identifiers, creating pathways for unauthorized users to assume administrative privileges without proper authorization. The affected system operates on TCP port 51100, which serves as the primary communication channel for the web interface and authentication processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits two distinct attack vectors that demonstrate poor security design in the authentication system. The first vector involves network-level eavesdropping where attackers can capture authentication data transmitted over the wire and subsequently replay this information to establish unauthorized sessions. This approach directly violates security principle of confidentiality and demonstrates the absence of proper encryption or token validation mechanisms. The second vector targets the client-side authentication cookie mechanism, specifically the PCZQX02 cookie, which contains session identifiers that can be extracted from browser storage and reused to gain administrative access. Both attack methods exploit the fundamental weakness in session management where authentication tokens lack sufficient entropy and proper validation controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete system compromise. Successful exploitation allows attackers to assume full administrative control over the Novell iChain appliance, enabling them to modify configurations, access sensitive data, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the network infrastructure. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on Novell iChain for identity management and access control, as it undermines the entire security framework designed to protect network resources. The attack vectors are relatively straightforward to execute, requiring only basic network monitoring capabilities or browser inspection tools, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where network traffic is not properly secured.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-306, which addresses "Missing Authentication for Critical Function," and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1566 for credential harvesting and T1548 for privilege escalation. Organizations affected by this vulnerability face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their networks. The lack of proper session management and authentication token protection creates an environment where attackers can maintain persistent access without detection. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of inadequate authentication design that has been addressed through proper session token management and encryption protocols.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0744 require immediate implementation of multiple security controls to address both attack vectors. Organizations must ensure that all communications on TCP port 51100 are encrypted using strong TLS protocols and that authentication tokens are properly validated with sufficient entropy. The implementation of secure session management practices including token expiration, regeneration, and proper validation mechanisms should be enforced. Browser-based security controls must be strengthened to prevent cookie theft through techniques such as secure flag implementation and HTTP-only cookie attributes. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. System administrators should also consider upgrading to patched versions of Novell iChain or implementing compensating controls such as network access controls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for replay attack patterns. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper authentication design and the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect administrative interfaces from unauthorized access attempts.