CVE-2005-2252 in PhpAuction
Summary
by MITRE
PhpAuction 2.5 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain privileges as another user by setting the PHPAUCTION_RM_ID cookie to the user ID.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2252 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in PhpAuction 2.5 software that exposes the application to unauthorized privilege escalation attacks. This issue stems from improper session management and insufficient input validation mechanisms within the application's authentication framework. The vulnerability specifically targets the cookie-based authentication system where the PHPAUCTION_RM_ID cookie serves as a critical identifier for user privileges and access rights. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the cookie value to assume the identity of any user within the system, effectively bypassing all authentication controls and gaining unauthorized access to user accounts and associated data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insecure session management where the application relies on client-side cookie values for privilege determination without proper server-side validation or authentication checks. This flaw falls under the CWE-285 category of Improper Authorization, specifically related to insufficient checks on user privileges and access control mechanisms. The vulnerability exists because the application accepts the user ID value directly from the cookie without verifying its legitimacy or ensuring that the authenticated user has the authority to assume the privileges of the target user. The flaw is particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to escalate their privileges to any user level within the system simply by modifying the cookie value to match a valid user ID.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using PhpAuction 2.5 as it enables complete compromise of user accounts and potential access to sensitive data. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data manipulation, privacy violations, and system integrity compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to impersonate administrators, access confidential user information, modify auction listings, and potentially gain access to financial data or personal user details. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed remotely without requiring any special tools or extensive knowledge of the underlying system architecture.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly under the privilege escalation and credential access domains. This type of attack demonstrates how weak session management and improper input validation can be leveraged to achieve unauthorized access and privilege escalation. Organizations should implement comprehensive mitigations including server-side validation of user privileges, secure session management practices, and proper input sanitization to prevent such attacks. The recommended defenses include implementing proper authentication checks, using secure cookie attributes such as HttpOnly and Secure flags, implementing session regeneration after authentication, and employing proper access control mechanisms that validate user permissions server-side rather than relying on client-side cookie values for privilege determination. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy systems that may be susceptible to similar attacks.