CVE-2008-0141 in WebPortal CMS
Summary
by MITRE
actions.php in WebPortal CMS 0.6-beta generates predictable passwords containing only the time of day, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access to any account via a lostpass action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0141 affects WebPortal CMS version 0.6-beta and resides in the actions.php file within the password recovery mechanism. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that directly impacts authentication systems by generating predictable password reset tokens that contain only temporal information, specifically the time of day when the reset request was initiated. The predictable nature of these passwords creates a substantial attack surface that allows remote adversaries to systematically guess or brute-force account credentials, thereby compromising user accounts and potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the use of time-based entropy in password generation rather than cryptographically secure random number generation. When users initiate a lost password action, the system creates a new password that is derived solely from the current time component, typically expressed in hours, minutes, or seconds. This approach violates fundamental security principles for password generation as outlined in CWE-330, which addresses the use of insufficiently random values in security-critical contexts. The flaw specifically aligns with CWE-338, which focuses on the use of cryptographically weak pseudo-random number generators, and CWE-331, which addresses insufficient entropy in random number generation. Attackers can exploit this predictable pattern by making multiple password reset requests and observing the temporal correlation in generated passwords, effectively reducing the search space for successful authentication attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple account compromise, as it enables attackers to systematically target multiple user accounts within the WebPortal CMS environment. The remote attack vector means that adversaries do not require physical access or network proximity to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible web applications. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1110.003, which covers credential stuffing attacks, and T1212, which addresses data manipulation through credential exposure. The predictable password generation creates a scenario where attackers can perform automated attacks against multiple accounts simultaneously, potentially leading to widespread unauthorized access and data breaches. Organizations using this CMS version face elevated risk of unauthorized access to user accounts, which could result in data theft, system compromise, and potential regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of secure password generation mechanisms that utilize cryptographically secure random number generators and sufficient entropy to prevent predictability. System administrators should upgrade to patched versions of WebPortal CMS or implement custom fixes that replace the time-based password generation with properly randomized tokens. The solution must incorporate strong randomness sources that meet industry standards such as those specified in NIST SP 800-90A for random number generation. Additionally, implementing rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms can help reduce the effectiveness of automated attacks against the vulnerable password reset functionality. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in password reset requests, and multi-factor authentication should be enabled where possible to provide additional layers of protection against credential compromise attacks.