CVE-2005-4689 in Movable Type
Summary
by MITRE
Six Apart Movable Type 3.16 stores account names and password hashes in a cookie, which allows remote attackers to login to an account by sniffing the cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4689 represents a critical security flaw in Six Apart Movable Type 3.16, a web-based content management system that was widely used for blog and website management during that era. This issue stems from a fundamental misconfiguration in how the application handles user authentication state persistence, creating a persistent security weakness that directly compromises user account integrity. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication mechanism by storing sensitive credential information in client-side cookies, which fundamentally violates established security principles for credential handling.
The technical flaw manifests when the Movable Type application serializes user account names and password hashes into HTTP cookies that are transmitted between the client browser and the web server. This design decision creates a dangerous situation where authentication state information becomes accessible to any entity that can intercept network traffic between the user and the application server. The cookie-based storage mechanism essentially transforms the authentication process from a secure server-side validation into a client-side convenience feature that inadvertently exposes credentials to potential attackers. This approach directly contravenes security best practices and creates a pathway for unauthorized access through simple network sniffing operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass broader security implications for web application environments. Remote attackers capable of performing network packet sniffing operations can easily capture these cookies from network traffic, particularly in unencrypted HTTP communications or on compromised networks such as public wi-fi hotspots. Once captured, these cookies can be used to authenticate as the legitimate user without requiring knowledge of the actual password, effectively bypassing traditional password-based authentication controls. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to maintain persistent access to compromised accounts, enabling them to perform unauthorized actions including content modification, account manipulation, and potential lateral movement within the application environment. The attack vector is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise, making it a significant threat to users operating the vulnerable software version.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several established frameworks and classifications including CWE-567, which addresses "Untrusted Input to Security Decision," and CWE-312, which covers "Sensitive Data in a Cookie." From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1566, "Phishing," and T1071.004, "Application Layer Protocol: DNS," as attackers can leverage network interception to capture authentication tokens. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insecure credential storage where sensitive data is persisted in a manner that makes it accessible to unauthorized parties. Organizations running this software would be vulnerable to credential stuffing attacks, session hijacking, and unauthorized account takeovers, particularly in environments where network traffic is not properly encrypted or secured. The remediation approach requires immediate implementation of secure session management practices, including server-side session storage, proper cookie security attributes, and the adoption of encrypted communication protocols to prevent the interception of authentication tokens.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate exposure and the underlying architectural flaw in the application's authentication design. The most effective solution involves implementing server-side session management where authentication state is maintained exclusively on the server, eliminating the need to store sensitive information in client cookies. Additionally, all cookie attributes should be properly configured with secure flags including HttpOnly, Secure, and SameSite attributes to prevent client-side script access and cross-site request forgery attacks. Organizations should also implement mandatory encrypted communication using tls 1.2 or higher for all application traffic, ensuring that even if network interception occurs, the data remains protected. The software should be upgraded to a supported version that implements proper security controls for credential handling, as Six Apart Movable Type 3.16 is an outdated version that likely contains additional unpatched vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar insecure credential storage patterns in other applications within the organization's infrastructure, as this type of vulnerability represents a common security oversight in web application development.