CVE-2007-2822 in TutorialCMS
Summary
by MITRE
TutorialCMS 1.01 and earlier, when register_globals is enabled, allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via the (1) loggedIn and (2) activated parameters to (a) login.php, (b) headerLinks.php, (c) submit1.php, (d) myFav.php, and (e) userCP.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2024
TutorialCMS version 1.01 and earlier contains a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that exploits the dangerous configuration of register_globals being enabled on the web server. This vulnerability exists across multiple PHP scripts including login.php, headerLinks.php, submit1.php, myFav.php, and userCP.php where the loggedIn and activated parameters can be manipulated to gain unauthorized access to protected areas of the application. The flaw represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference and improper input validation that allows attackers to directly manipulate session state variables without proper authentication checks. When register_globals is enabled, PHP automatically creates global variables from GET, POST, and cookie data, creating an attack surface where malicious parameters can override application logic. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-284 Access Control Bypass and CWE-285 Authentication Bypass, as it allows unauthorized users to assume valid user identities and access restricted functionality. The operational impact is severe as attackers can bypass authentication mechanisms entirely and gain access to user accounts, personal information, and administrative functions. According to ATT&CK framework, this represents a privilege escalation technique under T1068 and credential access under T1078. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects multiple entry points within the application, providing attackers with multiple opportunities to exploit the same flaw. The root cause lies in the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters, combined with the server configuration that allows automatic variable creation from user-supplied data. This creates a scenario where attackers can manipulate the loggedIn and activated flags to true values, effectively bypassing the authentication flow and gaining immediate access to protected resources. The vulnerability is classified as a low-effort, high-impact exploit that requires minimal technical knowledge to execute successfully, making it particularly attractive to threat actors. Organizations using TutorialCMS with register_globals enabled should immediately disable this dangerous configuration setting and implement proper input validation to prevent parameter manipulation attacks. The recommended mitigation includes disabling register_globals in php.ini, implementing proper authentication checks in all affected scripts, and applying input sanitization techniques to prevent unauthorized parameter manipulation. Additionally, the application should be updated to a newer version that addresses these security flaws and implements proper access control mechanisms to prevent such bypass scenarios from occurring in the future.