CVE-2008-2920 in EZTechhelp EZCMS
Summary
by MITRE
admin/filemanager/ (aka the File Manager) in EZTechhelp EZCMS 1.2 and earlier does not require authentication, which allows remote attackers to create, modify, read, and delete files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-2920 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the EZTechhelp EZCMS 1.2 content management system. This issue affects the file manager component located at admin/filemanager/, which serves as a core administrative interface for managing website files. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement proper authentication mechanisms, allowing any remote attacker to gain unrestricted access to file management operations without requiring valid credentials.
This authentication bypass vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-287, which specifically addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The flaw enables attackers to perform all file operations including creation, modification, reading, and deletion of files within the CMS environment. From an operational perspective, this represents a severe security weakness that fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the web application's file system. The vulnerability exists at the administrative interface level, meaning that successful exploitation would provide attackers with direct access to the server's file structure and potentially allow them to upload malicious files or modify existing ones to gain further system control.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it creates opportunities for attackers to execute various malicious activities within the CMS environment. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1078 - Valid Accounts and T1566 - Phishing, as attackers could potentially use the compromised file manager to establish persistence or deliver additional malicious payloads. The lack of authentication requirements means that attackers could upload web shells, modify existing scripts, or replace legitimate files with malicious versions to maintain access or escalate privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate implementation of proper authentication controls within the file manager component. Organizations should ensure that all administrative interfaces require valid user credentials and implement role-based access controls to restrict file operations to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate authentication-related flaws. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to administrative interfaces to trusted IP addresses only. Regular security updates and patches should be applied to ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly, as this particular flaw represents a fundamental security failure that could be exploited by any remote attacker without requiring specialized knowledge or tools.