CVE-2006-2168 in FileProtection Express
Summary
by MITRE
FileProtection Express 1.0.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via a cookie with an Admin value of 1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2168 affects FileProtection Express version 1.0.1 and earlier, presenting a critical authentication bypass flaw that could enable remote attackers to gain administrative privileges. This issue stems from improper validation of authentication tokens within the application's session management mechanism, specifically targeting the handling of administrative cookies that control access levels. The vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks where the system fails to properly verify user credentials before granting elevated privileges. The flaw exists in the cookie-based authentication system where an attacker can manipulate the administrative flag value to achieve unauthorized access to protected administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of HTTP cookies that contain administrative status indicators. When an attacker sets the cookie value to Admin=1, the application incorrectly accepts this value without proper verification of the user's actual authorization status. This represents a failure in input validation and authentication mechanisms, aligning with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues. The vulnerability demonstrates a lack of proper access control enforcement where the application trusts client-side data without server-side validation. The flaw essentially allows for privilege escalation through cookie manipulation, enabling attackers to bypass the normal authentication flow and gain administrative access to the FileProtection Express system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for organizations using the affected software version. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness from any location without requiring physical access or prior credentials, making it particularly dangerous. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as the administrative privileges granted through this vulnerability could enable attackers to modify system configurations, access sensitive data, install malicious software, or perform other damaging operations. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that threat actors can target systems from outside the network perimeter, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Organizations relying on FileProtection Express for file security management face potential data breaches, unauthorized system modifications, and loss of integrity in their protected file environments.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected software to version 1.0.2 or later, which presumably contains the necessary authentication fixes. System administrators should implement proper cookie validation mechanisms that verify administrative privileges server-side rather than trusting client-supplied values. Additional security measures include implementing secure session management practices, enforcing proper access control checks, and monitoring for unauthorized cookie modifications. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based controls such as web application firewalls to detect and prevent cookie manipulation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper authentication design and the principle of least privilege, where administrative access should never be granted based solely on client-side cookie values without server-side verification. The issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through authentication bypass methods, emphasizing the need for robust authentication mechanisms that cannot be easily circumvented through simple cookie manipulation.