CVE-2007-4282 in serendipity
Summary
by MITRE
The "Extended properties for entries" (entryproperties) plugin in serendipity_event_entryproperties.php in Serendipity 1.1.3 allows remote authenticated users to bypass password protection and "deliver custom entryproperties settings to the Serendipity Frontend" via a certain request that modifies the password being checked.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4282 represents a critical access control flaw within the Serendipity blogging platform version 1.1.3. This issue specifically affects the entryproperties plugin which is designed to manage extended properties for blog entries. The vulnerability arises from improper validation of user requests that modify password checking mechanisms, creating a pathway for authenticated users to circumvent intended security controls. The flaw exists in the serendipity_event_entryproperties.php file where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters that control password protection access. This allows malicious authenticated users to manipulate the request parameters and bypass the password protection that should normally restrict access to certain blog entries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a lack of proper input validation and authorization checks within the plugin's request handling mechanism. When users attempt to access password-protected entries, the system should verify that the provided password matches the expected value before granting access. However, the flawed implementation allows attackers to modify specific parameters in the request that influence the password checking logic. This manipulation enables unauthorized access to protected content while maintaining the appearance of legitimate authenticated access. The vulnerability specifically targets the password validation process rather than the authentication itself, making it particularly insidious as it operates within the legitimate user session context. This type of flaw is categorized under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a classic case of insufficient input sanitization leading to privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized content access, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of password-protected blog entries. Attackers can leverage this weakness to access sensitive information that should be restricted to authorized users only, potentially including private blog posts, drafts, or entries containing confidential data. The ability to "deliver custom entryproperties settings to the Serendipity Frontend" suggests that the vulnerability may also enable attackers to modify or inject arbitrary properties that could affect how content is displayed or processed. This could lead to more severe consequences including cross-site scripting attacks or other injection-based vulnerabilities. The impact is particularly concerning for blogs that host sensitive information or serve as platforms for private communication where password protection is a primary security control.
Organizations and individuals using Serendipity 1.1.3 should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves applying the official security patch released by the Serendipity development team, which would correct the input validation and authorization checking mechanisms within the entryproperties plugin. Additionally, administrators should review and audit user permissions to ensure that only trusted individuals have access to the affected plugin functionality. Network-level monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous requests that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly those involving unusual parameter modifications in the entryproperties handling. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, as it allows attackers to leverage legitimate authenticated sessions to gain unauthorized access. The remediation strategy should include comprehensive code review of all plugin components to identify similar input validation weaknesses and implementation of proper parameter sanitization techniques to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.