CVE-2007-6496 in Hosting Controller
Summary
by MITRE
Hosting Controller 6.1 Hot fix 3.3 and earlier allows remote attackers to register arbitrary users via a request to hosting/addsubsite.asp with the loginname and password parameters set, when preceded by certain requests to hosting/default.asp and hosting/selectdomain.asp, a related issue to CVE-2005-1654.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-6496 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within Hosting Controller 6.1 Hot fix 3.3 and earlier versions. This issue stems from improper input validation and session management mechanisms that allow remote attackers to register arbitrary user accounts without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically targets the hosting/addsubsite.asp component of the application, which serves as the endpoint for creating new user accounts within the hosting environment. The flaw operates through a sequence of requests that manipulate the application's internal state, effectively circumventing the normal user registration workflow that should require administrative privileges or proper authentication.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a specific pattern that leverages the application's session handling capabilities and parameter validation weaknesses. Attackers must first make requests to hosting/default.asp and hosting/selectdomain.asp to establish a particular session state before executing the malicious request to hosting/addsubsite.asp. This sequence creates a state transition that the application fails to properly validate, allowing the insertion of arbitrary loginname and password parameters. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and weak session management, which are commonly associated with CWE-20 Input Validation and CWE-613 Insufficient Session Expiration. The attack vector is remote and requires no prior authentication, making it particularly dangerous for hosting environments where multiple users and domains are managed through a single administrative interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-6496 extends beyond simple unauthorized user registration, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of the hosting platform. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can create unlimited user accounts with potentially elevated privileges, leading to unauthorized access to hosting resources, data breaches, and potential system compromise. The vulnerability creates a persistent backdoor within the hosting environment, as the newly created accounts can be used for ongoing malicious activities or to establish further footholds within the network infrastructure. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in multi-tenant hosting environments where the compromise of one user account could potentially affect multiple domains and customers, making it a significant concern for cloud service providers and hosting companies.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate exploitation vectors and the underlying architectural weaknesses that enable the attack. Organizations should implement immediate patches and updates to Hosting Controller versions that address this specific flaw, while also reviewing and strengthening session management protocols throughout the application. The implementation of proper input validation and parameter sanitization should be enforced at all entry points, particularly for administrative functions. Additionally, access controls should be reviewed to ensure that user registration endpoints are properly protected and that session tokens are properly validated and managed. Security practitioners should also consider implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious request patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through legitimate administrative functions, and T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it represents a direct exploitation of a web application vulnerability that affects publicly accessible hosting services.