CVE-2007-1160 in webSPELL
Summary
by MITRE
webSPELL 4.0, and possibly later versions, allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via a ws_auth cookie, a different vulnerability than CVE-2006-4782.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1160 affects webSPELL version 4.0 and potentially subsequent releases, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that undermines the security posture of web applications utilizing this content management system. This weakness enables remote attackers to circumvent the standard authentication mechanisms by manipulating a specific cookie named ws_auth, thereby gaining unauthorized access to protected administrative functions and user data. The vulnerability operates independently from CVE-2006-4782, indicating a distinct code path or implementation flaw within the authentication subsystem that has persisted across versions.
The technical implementation of this authentication bypass stems from improper validation of the ws_auth cookie value, which should normally contain a cryptographic token or session identifier that verifies user identity. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious cookie values that satisfy the authentication checks without proper credentials, effectively allowing unauthorized access to administrative panels and sensitive functionality. This type of vulnerability typically arises from inadequate input sanitization, weak session management, or flawed cryptographic implementation within the web application's authentication framework. The flaw aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication mechanisms, and represents a classic example of weak session handling that permits privilege escalation through cookie manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with the ability to modify website content, manage user accounts, delete data, and potentially escalate privileges within the application. Remote exploitation means that attackers do not require physical access or network proximity to the target system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in web hosting environments where multiple applications share resources. This authentication bypass can lead to complete system compromise, data breaches, and unauthorized modifications to website content, potentially affecting thousands of users depending on the scope of the compromised webSPELL installation. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper session management and the risks associated with predictable or easily manipulable authentication tokens.
Organizations utilizing webSPELL 4.0 or affected versions should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions, implementing proper cookie validation mechanisms, and strengthening session management protocols. The recommended approach involves configuring the application to validate cookie contents more rigorously, implementing cryptographic signing of authentication tokens, and ensuring that session identifiers are sufficiently random and unpredictable. Security measures should also include monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts and implementing rate limiting to prevent automated exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the necessity of regular security assessments and the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions to protect against known authentication bypass exploits. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through credential access, specifically targeting the credential stuffing and legitimate credential use phases of an attack lifecycle.