CVE-2005-2819 in DownFile
Summary
by MITRE
DownFile 1.3 allows remote attackers to gain administrator privileges via a direct request to (1) update.php, (2) del.php, and (3) add_form.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2819 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in DownFile version 1.3 that enables remote attackers to escalate privileges without proper authorization. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the application's core administrative functions. The affected files update.php, del.php, and add_form.php lack proper authentication checks, allowing malicious actors to directly access administrative interfaces and execute privileged operations. Such vulnerabilities fall under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically addressing improper access control in web applications where administrative functions are exposed without proper user verification.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the absence of session validation and user privilege checks within the targeted php files. When attackers make direct HTTP requests to these administrative endpoints, the application fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses administrator-level permissions. This design flaw creates an attack surface where any remote user can potentially modify system configurations, delete files, or add new content with full administrative privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security architecture principles where sensitive operations are not properly protected by authentication mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle sensitive data or system configurations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to modify application behavior, inject malicious code, or manipulate database contents through the administrative interfaces. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access or local network presence, making it particularly attractive to attackers seeking to compromise systems without detection. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 legitimate credentials, as attackers can effectively assume administrative roles without needing to obtain valid user credentials through traditional means. The impact is particularly severe in environments where DownFile is used for content management or file handling, as the attacker could potentially gain access to sensitive information or disrupt service availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2819 should focus on implementing robust authentication mechanisms and access control measures across all administrative endpoints. The most effective approach involves adding proper session validation checks and user privilege verification before executing any administrative operations in update.php, del.php, and add_form.php. Security patches should enforce that all requests to these files must originate from authenticated users with appropriate administrative permissions. Organizations should also implement input validation controls to prevent direct access to administrative functions and consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious requests. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to the principle of least privilege, where administrative functions are only accessible to authorized users with proper authentication. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses in web applications, particularly those that have not been updated with proper security measures since their initial release.