CVE-2007-5579 in Pligg CMS
Summary
by MITRE
login.php in Pligg CMS 9.5 uses a guessable confirmation code when resetting a forgotten password, which allows remote attackers with knowledge of a username to reset that user s password by calculating the confirmationcode parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-5579 affects the Pligg Content Management System version 9.5, specifically within the login.php component that handles password reset functionality. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the system's authentication mechanisms and creates a significant attack surface for malicious actors seeking unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability stems from the implementation of a predictable confirmation code generation algorithm that fails to provide adequate entropy for security purposes.
The technical flaw manifests in the password reset process where the system generates a confirmation code that can be easily calculated or guessed by attackers who already possess a valid username. This weakness directly violates security principles related to cryptographic randomness and proper entropy generation for authentication tokens. The confirmation code parameter lacks sufficient unpredictability, making it susceptible to brute force attacks or mathematical calculation attempts. This vulnerability falls under the category of weak cryptographic key generation as classified by CWE-338, which specifically addresses the use of cryptographically weak random number generators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables remote attackers to compromise user accounts without requiring additional authentication factors or privileged access. An attacker with knowledge of a target username can systematically calculate or guess the confirmation code, thereby gaining unauthorized access to that user's account and potentially the entire system. This creates a vector for account takeover attacks, data theft, and privilege escalation within the CMS environment. The vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1566 for credential access and T1078 for valid accounts, as it exploits weak authentication mechanisms to gain unauthorized system access.
The attack surface extends beyond simple password reset manipulation to encompass broader account compromise scenarios where attackers can leverage this weakness to escalate privileges or conduct further reconnaissance. The predictable nature of the confirmation code means that multiple attempts can be made systematically without triggering typical rate limiting or account lockout mechanisms. This vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on time-based or predictable token generation for account recovery processes, highlighting the critical importance of implementing cryptographically secure random number generation for authentication tokens. Organizations using Pligg CMS 9.5 should immediately implement mitigations including the use of cryptographically secure random number generators, implementation of additional account verification steps, and consideration of multi-factor authentication mechanisms to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.