CVE-2008-2298 in Web Slider
Summary
by MITRE
Admin.php in Web Slider 0.6 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain privileges by setting the admin cookie to 1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2298 resides within the Web Slider 0.6 content management system where a critical authentication bypass flaw exists in the admin.php script. This issue stems from improper input validation and inadequate session management mechanisms that fail to properly verify administrative privileges before granting access to restricted functionality. The vulnerability manifests when remote attackers manipulate the admin cookie value to 1, effectively circumventing the intended authentication controls and gaining unauthorized administrative access to the system.
This authentication bypass vulnerability represents a classic example of insecure authentication mechanisms and improper privilege management, classified under CWE-287 which deals with improper authentication issues. The flaw operates at the application level where the system relies on client-side cookie values without proper server-side validation to confirm administrative status. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary actions within the administrative interface without requiring valid credentials or authorization tokens, making it a severe security risk for any system utilizing this software component.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with full administrative privileges including but not limited to content modification, user management, configuration changes, and potential data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to the system, modify or delete content, add malicious users, and potentially use the compromised administrative interface as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The remote nature of this exploit means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or knowledge of valid user credentials to exploit the vulnerability.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and credential access phases where attackers seek to gain elevated privileges through weaknesses in authentication mechanisms. Organizations running Web Slider 0.6 are particularly vulnerable to this type of attack as the flaw exists in the core authentication logic without proper input sanitization or server-side validation of administrative privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security design principles where client-side controls are trusted without proper server-side verification, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the Web Slider 0.6 application to address the authentication bypass flaw, implementing proper input validation for all cookie values, and establishing robust session management protocols that verify administrative privileges server-side before granting access to administrative functions. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls such as web application firewalls to detect and prevent manipulation of authentication cookies, along with regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The remediation process must include thorough testing of authentication mechanisms to ensure that administrative privileges are properly verified through server-side validation rather than relying on client-provided cookie values that can be easily manipulated by attackers.