CVE-2006-4895 in Nixieaffiliate
Summary
by MITRE
IDevSpot NexieAffiliate 1.9 and earlier allows remote attackers to delete arbitrary affiliates via a modified id parameter to delete.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4895 affects IDevSpot NexieAffiliate version 1.9 and earlier, representing a critical authorization flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate affiliate data through unauthorized deletion operations. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the application's delete.php script, which processes affiliate deletion requests based on a user-provided id parameter. The vulnerability allows attackers to modify this parameter to target any affiliate record within the system, bypassing normal authorization checks that should prevent unauthorized modifications to affiliate data.
The technical flaw manifests as a classic authorization bypass vulnerability classified under CWE-285, where the application fails to properly verify that the authenticated user has the necessary privileges to perform deletion operations on specific affiliate records. The delete.php script directly accepts the id parameter without implementing proper access control validation, meaning any authenticated user can potentially delete affiliates they do not own or have authorization to modify. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and proper access control implementation. The vulnerability operates at the application logic level, where the system trusts user input without adequate sanitization or verification of the user's rights to perform the requested action.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, creating potential security risks for businesses relying on affiliate management systems. Attackers can exploit this flaw to remove legitimate affiliates from the system, potentially disrupting affiliate relationships, affecting revenue streams, and causing operational chaos. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring special privileges beyond basic access to the application, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by attackers from outside the organization's network. This type of vulnerability also opens the door for additional attacks such as data manipulation, information disclosure, or even further privilege escalation if the system lacks proper audit logging or monitoring of deletion activities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and access control measures. The application must validate that users can only delete affiliate records they are authorized to modify, typically through implementing role-based access control mechanisms or checking ownership relationships before processing deletion requests. The id parameter should be validated against the authenticated user's permissions, and all deletion operations should require explicit authorization checks. Organizations should also implement proper audit logging to track deletion activities and monitor for unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials use for persistence and privilege escalation, as unauthorized deletion of affiliate records could be part of broader malicious activities. The fix requires immediate patching of the delete.php script to implement proper authorization checks and input validation, along with comprehensive security testing to ensure no similar vulnerabilities exist in other administrative functions of the application.