CVE-2005-0747 in i-Class
Summary
by MITRE
ApplyYourself i-Class allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information about their own applications by reusing the hidden ID field, as demonstrated using the id parameter to ApplicantDecision.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0747 resides within the ApplyYourself i-Class web application system, which is designed to facilitate online application processes for educational institutions and organizations. This particular flaw represents a classic case of improper access control and information disclosure that stems from the application's handling of hidden form fields and parameter validation. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application reuses a hidden ID field in its web interface, creating an opportunity for remote attackers to manipulate the system's behavior and extract sensitive information about the applications being processed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of a parameter named 'id' within the ApplicantDecision.asp component of the i-Class system. This parameter, which should remain hidden and properly validated, becomes accessible to attackers who can manipulate its value to traverse the application's internal data structures. The flaw occurs because the system fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters before processing them, allowing an attacker to bypass normal access controls and retrieve information that should be restricted to authorized users or specific application contexts. The hidden ID field that is reused in this manner essentially becomes a vector for unauthorized data access, as the application does not adequately verify the legitimacy of the ID value being submitted.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to gain insights into the internal workings of the application, potentially revealing details about other applications within the same system. This type of vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in educational environments where sensitive personal and academic information is processed through these systems. Attackers could use the disclosed information to craft more sophisticated attacks against the application or to identify other potential vulnerabilities within the system. The ability to reuse hidden fields also suggests a broader architectural weakness in how the application manages state and maintains security boundaries between different application components.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in information security. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1213 technique for Data from Information Repositories, as it allows adversaries to extract data from application databases or internal information stores. The flaw also demonstrates characteristics of T1566 related to social engineering through manipulation of application interfaces, as attackers can exploit the hidden field to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. Organizations using the ApplyYourself i-Class system should implement proper parameter validation, ensure that hidden fields are not easily manipulable, and establish robust access controls that prevent unauthorized data retrieval through parameter manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of input validation and sanitization for all parameters, particularly those that are reused across different application components. The application should be modified to properly validate the ID field against a legitimate set of values or implement proper authentication checks before processing any requests. Organizations should also consider implementing proper session management and access control mechanisms that prevent unauthorized users from accessing data that belongs to other applications or users within the system. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar patterns of hidden field manipulation that could lead to information disclosure vulnerabilities. The implementation of web application firewalls and input filtering mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection against parameter manipulation attacks, while regular updates and patches to the i-Class system should be maintained to address known vulnerabilities in the software stack.