CVE-2007-2007 in pL-PHP
Summary
by MITRE
admin.php in pL-PHP beta 0.9 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication by setting the is_admin parameter to 1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2007 resides within the administrative interface of pL-PHP beta 0.9, a content management system that was prevalent in the early 2000s. This flaw represents a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that directly undermines the security model of the application. The vulnerability manifests through a parameter manipulation attack vector where remote attackers can exploit a lack of proper input validation and authentication checks. The specific flaw occurs in the admin.php script which processes administrative requests and fails to properly validate whether a user possesses legitimate administrative privileges before granting access to administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a design flaw where the application relies on a single parameter named is_admin to determine administrative access rights. When an attacker sets this parameter to the value 1, the application incorrectly grants administrative privileges without performing any verification of the user's actual authentication status or authorization level. This represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference vulnerability, where the application directly uses user-supplied input to determine access control decisions. The flaw falls under CWE-285 which specifically addresses improper authorization in software systems. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows any remote attacker to gain administrative control over the affected system without requiring valid credentials or prior access to the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass complete system compromise and potential data breach scenarios. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability can manipulate all administrative functions including user management, content modification, system configuration changes, and potentially gain access to sensitive data stored within the application. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for web applications that store sensitive information or serve as platforms for content management, as it allows attackers to completely subvert the application's security model. This type of vulnerability is categorized under the ATT&CK framework as Credential Access - Forge Web Credentials, where attackers can manipulate application parameters to bypass authentication mechanisms. The impact is exacerbated by the fact that this vulnerability requires no prior authentication, making it a passive attack vector that can be exploited by anyone with network access to the vulnerable system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security flaw and implement broader security practices to prevent similar issues. The most direct fix involves implementing proper input validation and authentication checks within the admin.php script to verify user credentials before accepting the is_admin parameter. This requires implementing proper authorization controls that ensure only authenticated users with legitimate administrative privileges can access administrative functions. Organizations should implement parameter sanitization and validation to prevent manipulation of critical parameters, along with proper session management and access control mechanisms. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices such as input validation, proper authentication checks, and avoiding reliance on user-supplied parameters for critical access control decisions. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in legacy systems, as this type of authentication bypass vulnerability was common in older web applications and may persist in unpatched systems. The fix should also include implementing proper logging and monitoring to detect attempts to manipulate administrative parameters, as well as ensuring that all administrative interfaces require proper authentication before processing any administrative commands.