CVE-2007-4240 in Help Center Live
Summary
by MITRE
The check_logout function in class/auth.php in Help Center Live (hcl) 2.1.3a sends a redirect to the web browser but does not exit when administrative credentials are missing, which allows remote attackers to delete administrative users and have other unspecified impact via certain requests to (1) admin/departments.php, (2) admin/operators.php, and other unspecified scripts. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4240 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within the Help Center Live 2.1.3a web application. This issue stems from improper session management and access control implementation within the authentication system, specifically within the check_logout function located in class/auth.php. The flaw manifests when administrative credentials are absent or invalid, yet the system fails to properly terminate the execution flow and instead continues processing with a redirect header, creating a dangerous condition where unauthorized users can potentially escalate privileges or execute administrative actions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the flawed check_logout function which operates under the assumption that proper authentication will always be present during logout operations. However, when administrative credentials are missing, the function sends a redirect header to the browser without executing an exit or die statement to terminate the script execution. This oversight creates a path where subsequent code execution continues despite the lack of proper authentication, allowing attackers to manipulate the application state through crafted requests to administrative endpoints.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to perform administrative actions including user deletion and other unspecified operations. The vulnerability affects multiple administrative scripts including admin/departments.php and admin/operators.php, indicating a systemic issue within the application's access control mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data manipulation, or unauthorized user management.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1548.001 for abuse of privileges. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient session management where the application fails to properly validate authentication status before allowing access to privileged functions. Organizations utilizing Help Center Live 2.1.3a should immediately implement mitigations including proper exit statements after authentication checks, comprehensive input validation, and strict access control enforcement across all administrative endpoints.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the Help Center Live application to version 2.1.3b or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this authorization bypass vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper session management practices, including explicit exit statements after authentication failures, and enforcing strict access controls for administrative functions will help prevent similar issues. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense, though the primary remediation must address the root cause in the application code itself. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper error handling and authentication state management in web applications, particularly those handling administrative functions where unauthorized access can lead to severe consequences.