CVE-2005-2312 in Emilda
Summary
by MITRE
management.php in Realnode Emilda 1.2.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to perform actions as other users by modifying the user_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2312 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw in the Realnode Emilda content management system version 1.2.2 and earlier. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and improper user session management within the management.php script, which processes administrative operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the user_id parameter that controls access to user account modifications, allowing malicious actors to manipulate this parameter and assume the identity of other users within the system. Such a flaw fundamentally undermines the authentication and authorization mechanisms that are essential for maintaining system integrity and user privacy.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and privilege escalation, aligning with CWE-285 which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems. The flaw exists because the management.php script does not properly verify whether the authenticated user has legitimate permissions to perform actions on the target user account. Attackers can simply modify the user_id parameter in HTTP requests to gain unauthorized access to other user accounts, potentially escalating privileges to administrator level if the target account holds elevated permissions. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web applications where session management and access controls are critical components for maintaining security boundaries.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions such as modifying user accounts, accessing confidential information, changing passwords, or executing administrative functions on behalf of legitimate users. The implications extend beyond simple data theft to include potential system compromise and complete unauthorized access to the content management system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows for impersonation attacks that can persist undetected for extended periods, making it difficult for system administrators to identify compromised accounts or trace malicious activities back to the original attack vector. This type of flaw can lead to complete system takeover if the targeted user account possesses administrative privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and authorization checks within the management.php script. The system should validate that the authenticated user has proper authorization to perform actions on the specified user_id parameter, and should implement proper session management with unique identifiers that cannot be easily manipulated. Additionally, the application should employ parameterized queries and input sanitization to prevent manipulation of critical parameters. Security measures should include logging all user account modifications and implementing account lockout mechanisms to prevent brute force attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users can only perform actions necessary for their specific roles within the system, as recommended by the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities in other components of the system.