CVE-2006-0864 in ViRobot
Summary
by MITRE
filescan in Global Hauri ViRobot 2.0 20050817 does not verify the Cookie HTTP header, which allows remote attackers to gain administrative privileges via an arbitrary cookie value.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0864 resides within the Global Hauri ViRobot 2.0 software version dated 20050817, specifically within the filescan component. This flaw represents a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that fundamentally undermines the software's security model. The issue stems from the application's failure to properly validate HTTP cookie headers during the authentication process, creating a pathway for unauthenticated attackers to escalate their privileges to administrative levels without proper authorization. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and authentication control that would be classified under CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication mechanisms in software systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the HTTP cookie header sent by the client to the server. When the filescan component processes incoming requests, it relies on cookie values to determine user permissions and administrative status. Attackers can craft arbitrary cookie values that appear to contain valid administrative session data, allowing them to bypass the normal authentication checks that should occur before granting elevated privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers Valid Accounts and privilege escalation through session management flaws. The flaw essentially creates a trust relationship between the application and client that should be validated but isn't, enabling attackers to assume administrative roles simply by crafting appropriate cookie data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any organization using the affected software. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains full administrative control over the ViRobot 2.0 system, which could include access to sensitive data, ability to modify system configurations, perform unauthorized file operations, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the entire system since administrative access typically provides unrestricted access to all system resources and data. Organizations using this software would face potential data breaches, system compromise, and loss of operational control over their security infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security flaw and broader architectural issues. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper cookie validation and authentication mechanisms that verify cookie integrity and authenticity before granting administrative privileges. Organizations should ensure that all authentication tokens are cryptographically signed and validated, with proper session management controls in place. The fix should implement strong session management practices including secure cookie attributes, proper session timeout mechanisms, and validation of cookie contents against known good values. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits of their legacy systems to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices as outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 controls for access control and session management, emphasizing that authentication mechanisms must be robust and validated to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation.