CVE-2008-1904 in CcMail
Summary
by MITRE
Cicoandcico CcMail 1.0.1 and earlier does not verify that the this_cookie cookie corresponds to an authenticated session, which allows remote attackers to obtain access to the "admin area" via a modified this_cookie cookie.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1904 affects Cicoandcico CcMail version 1.0.1 and earlier, representing a critical session management flaw that undermines the application's authentication mechanisms. This issue stems from insufficient validation of session tokens within the web application's security architecture, specifically targeting the this_cookie parameter that should serve as a crucial authentication checkpoint. The flaw allows malicious actors to bypass legitimate authentication procedures by crafting modified cookie values that grant unauthorized access to administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's failure to properly validate session state information stored within the this_cookie cookie. When users authenticate to the system, a legitimate session token should be generated and subsequently verified with each request to ensure the user maintains valid authorization. However, CcMail 1.0.1 and earlier versions neglect to perform this verification step, creating a path for attackers to manipulate session data and assume administrative privileges. This represents a classic session hijacking vulnerability where the application trusts client-supplied session identifiers without proper server-side validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the affected mail system. Once an attacker successfully modifies the this_cookie value, they gain unrestricted access to all administrative functions including user management, system configuration, email content viewing, and potentially the ability to inject malicious content or exfiltrate sensitive data. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means attackers can leverage this flaw from any network location without requiring physical access or prior system compromise. This represents a significant risk to organizations relying on CcMail for email services, as it could lead to complete system compromise and data breaches.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-384, which addresses session management flaws in web applications, specifically targeting the lack of proper session validation mechanisms. From an attack perspective, the flaw aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, as attackers can obtain administrative credentials through session manipulation. The vulnerability also reflects poor security practices in input validation and authentication flow implementation that should be addressed through proper session management protocols, including secure token generation, server-side session validation, and robust authentication state management. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest version of CcMail, implementing proper session validation mechanisms, and conducting thorough security reviews of all session management components to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other applications.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend to broader industry standards and best practices, particularly regarding secure session handling as defined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. The flaw demonstrates the critical importance of server-side validation of all client-supplied session identifiers and the necessity of implementing proper authentication state management. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as indicative of deeper architectural security weaknesses that require comprehensive security assessments and the implementation of robust session management frameworks to prevent unauthorized access to privileged administrative functions.