CVE-2008-5941 in MODX
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in MODx 0.9.6.1p2 and earlier allows remote attackers to perform unauthorized actions as other users via unknown vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2018
The cross-site request forgery vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5941 affects MODx content management systems version 0.9.6.1p2 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines user authentication and authorization mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge or consent, creating a significant risk to system integrity and user data protection. MODx versions prior to the patched release contained insufficient anti-CSRF protection mechanisms, making them susceptible to this class of attack that exploits the trust relationship between web applications and users.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper request validation mechanisms within MODx's authentication flow. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or send specially crafted requests that exploit the trust relationship between the vulnerable MODx application and legitimate users who are authenticated within the system. These attacks typically involve tricking users into clicking on malicious links or visiting compromised websites while maintaining an active session with the target MODx application. The unknown vectors mentioned in the description suggest that the vulnerability may manifest through multiple attack surfaces within the application's interface, potentially affecting various administrative functions and user management operations. The vulnerability operates by leveraging the fact that web browsers automatically include authentication cookies with every request to the target domain, allowing attackers to perform actions that require legitimate user privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5941 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data manipulation, user account compromise, and system configuration changes within the affected MODx installations. Attackers could potentially modify website content, alter user permissions, delete critical resources, or even escalate privileges to gain administrative control over the entire content management system. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations relying on MODx for website management, as it undermines the security assumptions that users maintain control over their authenticated sessions. The risk is compounded by the fact that users may unknowingly trigger malicious requests while browsing compromised websites, making this attack vector particularly insidious and difficult to detect. Organizations running vulnerable versions face potential reputational damage, data breaches, and compliance violations if their systems are successfully compromised through this CSRF attack.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5941 require immediate patching of affected MODx installations to version 0.9.6.1p3 or later, which incorporates proper CSRF protection mechanisms including anti-CSRF tokens and request validation checks. Security professionals should implement comprehensive web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cross-site request patterns, while also ensuring that all user sessions utilize secure and properly configured authentication tokens. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the vulnerable MODx versions within their infrastructure and establish monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers and proper session management practices can provide additional defense layers against CSRF attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1531 - Account Access Removal and T1078 - Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage compromised sessions to perform unauthorized administrative actions. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not present in other web applications within the organization's attack surface.