CVE-2007-2371 in phpMyNewsletter
Summary
by MITRE
admin/index.php in Gregory Kokanosky phpMyNewsletter 0.8 beta5 and earlier provides access to configuration modification before login, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (loss of configuration data), and possibly perform direct static code injection, via a saveGlobalconfig action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2371 affects phpMyNewsletter version 0.8 beta5 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in the administrative interface design. This issue stems from improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthenticated users to access administrative functions through the admin/index.php script. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly authenticate users before permitting access to configuration modification functions, creating a significant security gap that exposes sensitive administrative operations to unauthorized parties. The flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of authentication and authorization, as it permits remote attackers to bypass normal access controls and execute administrative actions without proper credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a lack of proper authentication checks within the admin/index.php file, specifically when processing the saveGlobalconfig action. Attackers can exploit this by directly calling the configuration modification endpoint without prior login, enabling them to manipulate the application's core settings. This weakness creates multiple attack vectors including potential denial of service through configuration data loss and direct static code injection capabilities. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it allows attackers to fundamentally alter the application's operational parameters, potentially leading to complete system compromise or service disruption. The flaw operates at the application logic level, where the software fails to validate user credentials before executing sensitive administrative functions, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses the normal authentication flow entirely.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations relying on phpMyNewsletter for email marketing or newsletter management services. The ability to cause denial of service through configuration data loss can result in complete service interruption, while the potential for direct static code injection opens pathways for more sophisticated attacks including remote code execution. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to modify critical system parameters, inject malicious code into the application, or completely disable the newsletter functionality. The remote nature of this attack vector means that any system exposed to the internet is potentially vulnerable, regardless of network segmentation or other security controls. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-285 (Improper Authorization) and CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code) categories, indicating both authorization failures and code injection risks. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that this vulnerability can be exploited without any prior authentication, making it particularly attractive to automated attack tools.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate implementation of proper authentication controls within the administrative interface. The most effective approach involves enforcing strict access control checks before any administrative functions are executed, ensuring that all requests to admin/index.php require valid authentication credentials. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures to prevent code injection attempts, while also applying proper session management protocols to prevent unauthorized access. The recommended remediation includes updating to a patched version of phpMyNewsletter, implementing network segmentation to limit exposure, and conducting thorough security reviews of all administrative interfaces. Additionally, organizations should establish monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized access attempts and implement regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. This vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and proper access control implementation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers may use such vulnerabilities to establish persistent access or gain initial foothold in target environments. The long-term solution requires organizations to maintain updated software versions and implement robust security controls that prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions.