CVE-2007-4932 in Shop-Script
Summary
by MITRE
admin.php in Shop-Script FREE 2.0 and earlier sends a redirect to the web browser but does not exit when administrative credentials are missing, which allows remote attackers to access the admin panel.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4932 represents a critical access control flaw in Shop-Script FREE 2.0 and earlier versions that fundamentally undermines the security posture of the web application. This issue resides within the admin.php file which serves as the primary administrative interface for the e-commerce platform. The flaw manifests when the application fails to properly enforce authentication checks, creating a scenario where unauthorized users can bypass the login mechanism and gain administrative access to the system. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core authentication flow of the application, potentially allowing attackers to execute privileged operations without proper authorization.
The technical nature of this vulnerability can be classified as a failure in access control enforcement, specifically related to improper handling of authentication states within the web application. When administrative credentials are not properly verified or validated, the system continues to process the request and redirect users to administrative interfaces without ensuring proper authorization. This behavior creates an authentication bypass condition where the application's redirect mechanism operates independently of the authentication validation process. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to manipulate the application flow by exploiting the missing exit condition that should terminate the request when proper credentials are not provided. This misconfiguration enables attackers to traverse the application's access control mechanisms and potentially gain full administrative privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations using Shop-Script FREE 2.0 or earlier versions as it provides remote attackers with direct access to administrative functions without requiring valid credentials. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data compromise, system manipulation, and the ability to modify critical application settings. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to modify product catalogs, alter pricing structures, access customer data, and potentially install malicious code within the application environment. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system or knowledge of specific system credentials. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks within web applications.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is particularly dangerous as it allows for automated exploitation by remote attackers who can simply navigate to the administrative interface and gain access without any authentication requirements. The lack of proper exit conditions in the authentication flow creates a logical flaw that can be easily exploited through simple web browser manipulation. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper request termination and authentication validation in web applications. The flaw essentially allows attackers to perform what would normally require administrative credentials, including but not limited to user management, system configuration changes, and data manipulation operations. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to administrative interfaces. The vulnerability also relates to T1566 which involves social engineering and manipulation of application behavior to gain unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the affected Shop-Script FREE versions to the latest available updates that address the authentication bypass issue. Organizations should implement proper access control measures including mandatory authentication checks, session management, and ensuring that all redirect operations properly validate user authorization before proceeding. The application should be configured to terminate requests immediately when authentication fails, rather than allowing unauthorized access to administrative functions. Additionally, network-level controls such as firewall rules and web application firewalls should be implemented to restrict access to administrative interfaces and monitor for suspicious access patterns. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in other parts of the application stack. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative access and ensuring that administrative interfaces are not directly accessible from the public internet without proper security controls in place.