CVE-2008-5568 in IPN Pro 3
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in admin/settings.php in IPN Pro 3 1.44 and earlier allows remote attackers to change the admin password via a logout action in conjunction with the admin_id, newpass_1, and newpass_2 parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2024
This cross-site request forgery vulnerability exists in the IPN Pro 3 1.44 and earlier versions within the admin/settings.php file, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate administrative accounts without authorization. The vulnerability specifically allows attackers to change administrator passwords through a maliciously crafted request that leverages the logout action combined with admin_id, newpass_1, and newpass_2 parameters. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues in web applications. The flaw stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF mechanisms such as anti-CSRF tokens or referer validation, making it possible for attackers to trick authenticated users into executing unintended administrative actions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it directly targets administrative functions and can result in complete system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the trust relationship between the web application and the authenticated administrator. When an administrator performs a logout action, the application processes the admin_id, newpass_1, and newpass_2 parameters without verifying the authenticity of the request origin or validating the user's intent. This allows an attacker to construct a malicious web page or email link that, when clicked by an authenticated administrator, automatically changes the administrator password. The attack vector typically involves social engineering techniques where the victim is tricked into visiting a malicious website or clicking on a compromised link. The vulnerability is classified under the MITRE ATT&CK framework as part of the privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting credential access and persistence mechanisms. This flaw represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture and demonstrates poor input validation and insufficient session management controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it provides attackers with direct administrative access to the affected system. Once an attacker successfully changes the administrator password, they gain complete control over the application's configuration, user management, data access, and system settings. The compromised system becomes vulnerable to further attacks including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on IPN Pro 3 versions 1.44 and earlier, potentially exposing sensitive data and critical business operations. The attack requires minimal technical expertise to execute, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by threat actors with varying skill levels. Organizations may face regulatory compliance violations, data breaches, and significant financial losses due to unauthorized access and potential system compromise. The vulnerability also creates a persistent threat as the attacker maintains access until the password is manually changed or the system is patched.
Mitigation strategies for this CSRF vulnerability should focus on implementing robust anti-CSRF protections and strengthening authentication mechanisms. The primary solution involves adding anti-CSRF tokens to all administrative actions, ensuring that each request contains a unique, unpredictable token that validates the request origin. Additionally, implementing proper referer header validation and enforcing strict session management controls can prevent unauthorized administrative operations. Organizations should immediately upgrade to the latest version of IPN Pro 3 where this vulnerability has been patched. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper input validation can further strengthen defenses against similar attacks. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. From a compliance perspective, organizations must ensure that their security measures align with industry standards such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for access control and session management. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of implementing comprehensive security controls in web applications and the necessity of regular security updates to protect against known exploits.