CVE-2008-5846 in Movable Type
Summary
by MITRE
Six Apart Movable Type (MT) before 4.23 allows remote authenticated users with create permission for posts to bypass intended access restrictions and publish posts via a "system-wide entry listing screen."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5846 affects Six Apart Movable Type version 4.22 and earlier, representing a significant access control flaw that undermines the security model of the content management system. This issue specifically targets authenticated users who possess create permissions for posts within the system, creating a scenario where legitimate users can exploit a design oversight to bypass intended access restrictions. The vulnerability manifests through a flaw in the system-wide entry listing screen functionality, which should normally enforce proper authorization checks but fails to do so correctly for users with limited permissions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and access control enforcement within the Movable Type application's permission system. When authenticated users with create permissions attempt to access the system-wide entry listing screen, the application fails to properly verify whether these users should have the ability to publish posts beyond their assigned privileges. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks that allows privilege escalation through a legitimate application interface. The flaw operates at the application logic level where the system assumes that users with create permissions inherently possess the right to publish, without proper verification of their actual publishing permissions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a serious risk for organizations relying on Movable Type for content management, as it allows malicious or unauthorized users to potentially publish content they should not have access to publish. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables unauthorized content publication that could compromise the integrity of the website or application. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to publish inappropriate content, malicious links, or content that violates organizational policies, potentially leading to reputational damage and legal consequences. The vulnerability also undermines the principle of least privilege, which is fundamental to secure system design and is referenced in security frameworks such as the CWE classification for insufficient authorization.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and defense evasion, as it allows attackers to bypass intended security controls. Organizations using affected versions of Movable Type should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to version 4.23 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this access control flaw. Additional mitigations may include implementing network-level restrictions, monitoring for unusual publishing activities, and ensuring that user permissions are carefully reviewed and restricted to the minimum necessary access levels. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and the need for regular security assessments of content management systems. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates and maintain compliance with industry security standards that emphasize the importance of proper authorization controls and access management.