CVE-2005-2036 in Cool Cafe Chat
Summary
by MITRE
modifyUser.asp in Cool Cafe (Cool Café) Chat 1.2.1 allows remote attackers to obtain the administrator password and email address via a modified nickname value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2036 represents a critical security flaw in Cool Cafe Chat version 1.2.1 that exposes sensitive administrative information through improper input validation. This issue specifically affects the modifyUser.asp component which handles user profile modifications within the chat application. The vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input parameters, particularly the nickname field, which can be manipulated by remote attackers to extract privileged information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a classic input validation weakness where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the nickname parameter passed to the modifyUser.asp script. When an attacker crafts a malicious nickname value, the system processes this input without adequate security checks, allowing unauthorized access to administrative credentials. This flaw falls under the category of information disclosure vulnerabilities and can be classified as CWE-20, which represents improper input validation. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear lack of proper access control mechanisms and authentication checks within the application's user management system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it directly enables unauthorized users to escalate their privileges and gain administrative access to the chat system. Once attackers obtain the administrator password and email address, they can fully compromise the system, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized modifications to chat content, user account manipulation, and complete system takeover. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of the entire chat platform, as it allows attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures and access privileged information. This represents a significant risk to organizations using the Cool Cafe Chat system, particularly those handling sensitive communications or user data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of proper input validation and sanitization techniques for all user-supplied parameters. The application should enforce strict validation of nickname values to prevent injection attacks and implement proper access control mechanisms that verify user permissions before allowing profile modifications. Security measures should also include input length restrictions, character set validation, and the implementation of proper session management and authentication protocols. Organizations should consider applying patches or upgrading to newer versions of the Cool Cafe Chat system that address this vulnerability. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential access through social engineering and input validation attacks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive defensive measures including proper input validation, access controls, and continuous monitoring of system access patterns.