CVE-2005-1558 in Nexusway
Summary
by MITRE
The web module in Neteyes Nexusway allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrator privileges by setting the cyclone500_auth cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1558 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the web module of Neteyes Nexusway software. This security weakness specifically targets the application's session management mechanism, allowing remote attackers to escalate their privileges without proper authentication credentials. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of authentication tokens within the web application's cookie handling system, creating a pathway for unauthorized administrative access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the cyclone500_auth cookie parameter. When an attacker sets this specific cookie value, the application fails to properly verify the authenticity of the authentication token, effectively allowing arbitrary privilege escalation. This flaw demonstrates a classic improper input validation issue that aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization within applications. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no local access or specialized equipment to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged remotely by threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with full administrative privileges within the affected system. This level of access enables comprehensive system compromise including but not limited to data exfiltration, system modification, privilege escalation to other users, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the targeted system, representing a significant risk to organizations relying on Neteyes Nexusway for their network security operations. Attackers could exploit this weakness to establish persistent access, modify system configurations, or deploy malicious payloads within the network infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1558 should focus on immediate patch deployment from the vendor, followed by comprehensive security hardening of the web application. Organizations must implement proper cookie validation mechanisms and ensure that all authentication tokens are properly verified before granting administrative privileges. The implementation of secure session management practices, including proper token generation, validation, and expiration mechanisms, should be enforced. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar authentication bypass opportunities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactic, emphasizing the need for robust authentication controls and proper input validation mechanisms throughout the application lifecycle.