CVE-2007-0681 in ExtCalendar
Summary
by MITRE
profile.php in ExtCalendar 2 and earlier allows remote attackers to change the passwords of arbitrary users without providing the original password, and possibly perform other unauthorized actions, via modified values to register.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0681 affects ExtCalendar version 2 and earlier, presenting a critical authentication bypass flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate user account credentials and potentially execute unauthorized actions. This vulnerability resides within the profile.php component of the application and demonstrates a fundamental failure in access control validation mechanisms. The flaw allows attackers to modify user passwords without providing the original password, effectively compromising user account security and undermining the integrity of the authentication system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient session management within the ExtCalendar application. When users attempt to modify their profiles through the register.php endpoint, the system fails to properly verify the authenticity of the requesting user or validate that the modifications originate from an authorized source. This weakness creates an exploitable condition where attackers can craft malicious requests that bypass normal authentication procedures and directly manipulate user account data. The vulnerability specifically exploits the lack of proper authorization checks in the profile management functionality, allowing arbitrary user password changes without requiring legitimate credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple password manipulation to encompass potential unauthorized access to sensitive user data and system resources. Attackers could leverage this flaw to gain persistent access to user accounts, potentially escalating privileges and accessing confidential information stored within the calendar application. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network presence, making it particularly dangerous for web-hosted applications. This weakness directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing authentication and session management failures that can lead to account takeover scenarios.
The exploitation of CVE-2007-0681 aligns with attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access and privilege escalation domains. This vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient verification of user identity and access rights, creating opportunities for attackers to perform unauthorized actions within the application's user management system. The flaw demonstrates the importance of implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms as outlined in the CWE database under categories related to authentication failures and improper input validation. Organizations running affected versions of ExtCalendar face significant risk of unauthorized account compromise and potential data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected ExtCalendar installations to version 3.0 or later, where the authentication bypass flaw has been addressed. System administrators should implement additional security measures including input validation, proper session management, and access control enforcement. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of proper code review processes and security testing to identify authentication-related weaknesses before deployment. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation, monitoring for suspicious authentication activities, and conducting regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future software deployments.