CVE-2007-2372 in phpMyNewsletter
Summary
by MITRE
admin/send_mod.php in Gregory Kokanosky phpMyNewsletter 0.8 beta5 and earlier prints a Location header but does not exit when administrative credentials are missing, which allows remote attackers to compose an e-mail message via a post with the subject, message, format, and list_id fields; and send the message via a direct request for the MsgId value under admin/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2024
This vulnerability exists in phpMyNewsletter version 0.8 beta5 and earlier where the administrative authentication check fails to properly terminate script execution when valid credentials are not provided. The flaw is specifically located in the admin/send_mod.php file which handles email composition and sending functionality. When an unauthorized user attempts to access the email sending interface without proper administrative authentication, the script incorrectly continues execution and sends a Location header redirect response while still allowing the user to submit email data through POST requests. This represents a classic authorization bypass vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to leverage the administrative email functionality for malicious purposes. The vulnerability stems from improper session validation and control flow management within the application's access control mechanisms, creating a condition where authentication checks do not adequately protect sensitive administrative functions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a predictable pattern where an attacker can craft a malicious POST request containing subject, message, format, and list_id parameters to compose email content. Once the email composition is initiated through the flawed authentication check, the attacker can then make a direct request to retrieve the MsgId value from the admin/ directory, effectively bypassing the authentication layer entirely. This allows the attacker to send email messages as if they were authenticated administrators, potentially enabling spam distribution, data exfiltration, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in proper input validation and access control enforcement, where the application fails to validate user privileges before executing administrative operations. The Location header response alone is insufficient to prevent further execution and data manipulation, creating a security gap that can be exploited for privilege escalation and unauthorized administrative actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to email sending capabilities within the application. Attackers can potentially use this vulnerability to send spam emails, distribute phishing content, or exfiltrate sensitive information through the newsletter system. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on phpMyNewsletter for email distribution, as it provides a backdoor for malicious actors to compromise the system's email functionality without needing legitimate administrative credentials. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly, potentially causing reputational damage, regulatory compliance issues, and security breaches. The vulnerability also demonstrates a broader pattern of inadequate access control implementation that could affect other similar administrative functions within the application.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper authentication validation and ensuring that script execution terminates immediately upon failed authentication attempts. Organizations should update to phpMyNewsletter version 0.8 beta6 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper session validation and control flow management. The fix involves ensuring that when administrative credentials are missing or invalid, the script exits immediately rather than continuing execution and sending redirect headers. Security measures should include implementing robust input validation, proper session management, and ensuring that all administrative functions require valid authentication before execution. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-level protections such as firewalls and access control lists to restrict access to administrative interfaces, while also monitoring for suspicious email sending activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285 (Improper Authorization) and ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and unauthorized access to administrative functions.