CVE-2008-4784 in aflog
Summary
by MITRE
aflog 1.01 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrative access by setting the aflog_auth_a cookie to "A" or "O" in (1) edit_delete.php, (2) edit_cat.php, (3) edit_lock.php, and (4) edit_form.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-4784 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw in the aflog 1.01 web application that directly enables unauthorized administrative access. This issue stems from improper input validation and weak session management mechanisms within the application's authentication system, allowing remote attackers to manipulate cookie values to assume administrative privileges without legitimate credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of the aflog_auth_a cookie parameter to specific values "A" or "O" across four critical php files within the application's administrative interface. These files include edit_delete.php, edit_cat.php, edit_lock.php, and edit_form.php, which collectively represent the core administrative functions of the aflog system. The flaw occurs because the application fails to properly validate the cookie value against legitimate administrative credentials, instead relying on a simple string comparison that can be easily manipulated by an attacker.
This authentication bypass vulnerability directly maps to CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.001 for credential stuffing attacks. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it allows attackers to gain complete administrative control over the affected system, potentially enabling them to modify content, delete data, alter configurations, and access sensitive information stored within the aflog application.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe for organizations utilizing aflog 1.01, as it provides attackers with unrestricted access to administrative functions without requiring any legitimate credentials. This creates a significant risk for data integrity and system availability, as malicious actors can perform destructive operations including data deletion, content modification, and unauthorized system changes. The remote nature of this attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system or knowledge of valid user credentials.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the aflog application to version 1.02 or later, which contains the necessary authentication fixes. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and sanitization measures to prevent cookie manipulation, enforce secure session management practices, and establish monitoring for suspicious cookie value changes. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should verify that authentication mechanisms properly validate user credentials before granting administrative access. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular credential rotation practices can further reduce the risk associated with such authentication bypass vulnerabilities.