CVE-2006-3398 in Taskjitsu
Summary
by MITRE
The "change password forms" in Taskjitsu before 2.0.1 includes password hashes in hidden form fields, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from the (1) Category Editor and (2) User Information editor.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-3398 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Taskjitsu application version 2.0.0 and earlier. This issue stems from the improper handling of authentication credentials within the web application's user interface components, specifically affecting the Category Editor and User Information editor modules. The vulnerability manifests through the inclusion of password hashes in hidden form fields, which violates fundamental security principles regarding credential handling and sensitive data protection. The implementation fails to properly separate authentication mechanisms from user interface elements, creating an avenue for unauthorized information retrieval.
The technical flaw resides in the web application's form processing architecture where password hashes are stored in hidden HTML form fields rather than being securely processed server-side. This design choice directly contravenes established security practices and creates a situation where sensitive authentication data becomes exposed through the browser's client-side rendering process. When users navigate to the Category Editor or User Information editor interfaces, these hidden form fields containing password hashes are transmitted as part of the HTTP request payload, making them accessible to any attacker who can intercept or analyze the web application's client-side code. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-200 as exposure of sensitive information and CWE-312 as exposure of sensitive data in hidden form fields. This type of flaw represents a classic example of insecure data handling where authentication tokens are not properly secured during transmission and storage within web forms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential stuffing, password reuse attacks, and session hijacking. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability without requiring authentication or specialized tools, simply by accessing the affected application interfaces and extracting the password hashes from the hidden form fields. This exposure creates a significant risk for users whose credentials may be reused across multiple systems, as the stolen password hashes can be subjected to offline brute force attacks or rainbow table lookups. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of user authentication data, potentially leading to unauthorized access to user accounts and compromise of the entire application's user base. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1566 for credential access and T1071 for application layer protocol usage, as it exploits weaknesses in web application interfaces to extract authentication credentials.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability involve immediate remediation of the web application's form handling code to ensure that password hashes are never transmitted to client-side interfaces in any form. The implementation should enforce server-side credential processing and remove any sensitive data from client-side HTML form elements. Security measures should include input validation, proper credential handling protocols, and comprehensive code reviews to prevent similar issues in other application components. Additionally, the application should implement proper session management and authentication mechanisms that do not rely on client-side storage of sensitive information. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in hidden form fields or other client-side data exposure scenarios, ensuring compliance with security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Regular security training for development teams regarding secure coding practices and proper handling of authentication credentials is essential to prevent recurrence of such vulnerabilities in future application releases.