CVE-2006-6258 in AlternC
Summary
by MITRE
The phpmyadmin subsystem in AlternC 0.9.5 and earlier transmits the SQL password in cleartext in a cookie, which might allow remote attackers to obtain the password by sniffing or by conducting a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6258 affects the phpmyadmin subsystem within AlternC 0.9.5 and earlier versions, presenting a significant security risk through improper credential handling mechanisms. This flaw exists within a web-based administrative interface that manages database operations, specifically targeting how authentication credentials are stored and transmitted within the browser environment. The issue stems from the subsystem's design decision to store sensitive authentication information in cookies without adequate encryption or protection measures, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the fundamental security principles of credential management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the transmission of SQL passwords in cleartext format within HTTP cookies, which are inherently susceptible to interception and manipulation. When users authenticate to the phpmyadmin interface, their database credentials are serialized into cookie values that remain unencrypted throughout their lifecycle. This design flaw directly violates security best practices established in industry standards such as CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage. The cleartext nature of these credentials means that any attacker with network access or the ability to execute cross-site scripting attacks can readily extract authentication tokens from cookie values, effectively bypassing traditional authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, creating multiple attack vectors that can be leveraged by malicious actors. Network sniffing attacks become particularly effective as attackers can capture these unencrypted cookies from network traffic, while cross-site scripting vulnerabilities provide an additional pathway for exploitation. This dual attack surface significantly increases the attack surface and attack surface complexity, as demonstrated by ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential access through phishing and social engineering. The vulnerability affects the entire administrative workflow of AlternC systems, potentially allowing unauthorized access to database resources, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the affected environments.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability must address both the immediate exposure through cleartext cookies and the underlying architectural design flaws. The primary remediation involves implementing proper encryption or hashing mechanisms for credential storage within cookies, ensuring that sensitive data cannot be easily extracted through network sniffing or XSS attacks. Additionally, implementing secure cookie attributes such as HttpOnly, Secure, and SameSite flags would significantly reduce the attack surface by preventing JavaScript access to authentication cookies and ensuring transport layer security. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication layers including multi-factor authentication and regular credential rotation policies. The remediation efforts align with NIST SP 800-63B guidelines for authentication and credential management, emphasizing the importance of protecting sensitive information through proper cryptographic techniques and secure implementation practices. Furthermore, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other subsystems that may be storing sensitive information in unencrypted formats.