CVE-2006-0607 in phphd
Summary
by MITRE
check.php in Hinton Design phphd 1.0 does not check passwords when certain cookies are provided, which allows remote attackers to bypass authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0607 resides within the check.php script of Hinton Design phphd version 1.0, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that fundamentally undermines the security posture of the affected system. This issue manifests when specific cookies are present in the HTTP request, causing the application to skip password validation entirely. The flaw operates at the application logic level, where the developers failed to implement proper authentication checks, creating a condition where unauthorized users can gain access without providing valid credentials. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authentication flow control, allowing attackers to manipulate the application state through cookie manipulation. This represents a classic example of a weak authentication mechanism that violates fundamental security principles.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a clear failure in access control enforcement where the application's authentication routine does not properly validate user credentials when certain cookie values are detected. The phphd 1.0 application appears to rely on a cookie-based session management system that, when specific parameters are present, automatically grants access without verifying the associated password. This creates a dangerous privilege escalation path where an attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing the appropriate cookie values to bypass authentication entirely. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited through network-based attacks without requiring local system access or prior authentication. This flaw aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege in security design.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-0607 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, potentially enabling attackers to perform administrative functions, modify sensitive data, or gain persistent access to the affected system. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can effectively assume the identity of any user whose credentials are not properly validated, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or network, making it particularly dangerous in internet-facing applications. This flaw creates opportunities for lateral movement within networks, data exfiltration, and potential use as a foothold for more extensive attacks. The impact is exacerbated by the fact that authentication bypass vulnerabilities are often difficult to detect through standard security monitoring, as legitimate users may appear to have valid access. The vulnerability also violates several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering, as attackers can leverage this weakness to establish persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the root cause through proper code review and authentication implementation. The primary fix involves modifying the check.php script to always validate password credentials regardless of cookie presence, ensuring that authentication checks are performed consistently. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization to prevent cookie manipulation attacks, while also establishing robust session management controls. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting thorough security testing before deployment. Regular security audits and code reviews should be implemented to identify similar authentication bypass opportunities. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that all authentication paths are properly validated and that no bypass conditions exist in the application logic. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as multi-factor authentication and robust logging mechanisms to detect and respond to potential exploitation attempts.