CVE-2007-2003 in InoutMailingListManager
Summary
by MITRE
InoutMailingListManager 3.1 and earlier sends a Location redirect header but does not exit after an authorization check fails, which allows remote attackers to access certain restricted functionality, and upload and execute arbitrary PHP code, by ignoring the redirect.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2003 affects InoutMailingListManager version 3.1 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw that stems from improper access control implementation. This issue manifests when the application fails to properly terminate execution flow after an authorization check failure, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to restricted administrative functions. The flaw resides in the application's handling of HTTP redirect responses, specifically the Location header mechanism that should enforce access restrictions but instead provides attackers with a means to bypass these controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application sending an HTTP 302 redirect response to unauthorized users attempting to access protected administrative sections, yet failing to explicitly terminate the current script execution. This behavior creates a race condition where attackers can continue processing the original request despite the redirect header, effectively allowing them to proceed with operations they should not be permitted to perform. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it combines authentication bypass with privilege escalation capabilities, enabling attackers to upload and execute arbitrary PHP code on the target server.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a severe compromise of the application's security model and can lead to complete system compromise. Attackers exploiting this flaw can gain unrestricted access to administrative functions, allowing them to modify mailing list configurations, add new users, and most critically upload malicious PHP files that execute arbitrary commands on the server. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as the ability to execute arbitrary code provides attackers with persistent access to the compromised system and potentially the entire network infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software applications, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1505 for server-side injection. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability affects the application's fundamental access control mechanisms and represents a classic example of how improper error handling can lead to privilege escalation. Organizations using affected versions should immediately implement mitigations including patching to the latest available version, implementing proper input validation, and enforcing strict access controls that do not rely solely on redirect headers for security enforcement.
The remediation strategy requires immediate patching of the InoutMailingListManager application to version 3.2 or later, where the authorization check failures properly terminate script execution. Additionally, administrators should implement proper logging and monitoring of access control events to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network-level controls such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor for suspicious redirect patterns and unauthorized access attempts. Regular security assessments should verify that all redirect mechanisms properly enforce access controls and that no similar flaws exist in related components of the application stack. The vulnerability underscores the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies where access controls are enforced at multiple levels rather than relying on single points of failure.