CVE-2008-6009 in SG Real Estate Portal
Summary
by MITRE
SG Real Estate Portal 2.0 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrative access by setting the Auth cookie to 1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6009 affects SG Real Estate Portal version 2.0, representing a critical authentication bypass flaw that exposes the system to unauthorized administrative access. This vulnerability resides in the application's session management and authentication mechanisms, specifically within how the system validates user credentials and administrative privileges. The flaw manifests through a simple yet dangerous manipulation of the Auth cookie parameter, which serves as a critical control mechanism for access authorization within the portal's security architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insecure session handling within the SG Real Estate Portal application. When an attacker sets the Auth cookie value to 1, they effectively bypass the normal authentication process that should verify user credentials and roles before granting administrative privileges. This represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference and weak session management, where the application fails to properly validate the legitimacy of the authentication token. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses authentication failures, and CWE-306, concerning missing authentication. The flaw demonstrates how a single parameter manipulation can undermine the entire security posture of an application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it allows remote attackers to assume full administrative privileges without proper authentication. This unauthorized access enables malicious actors to modify, delete, or exfiltrate sensitive real estate data, alter user accounts, and potentially compromise the entire system infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access or network proximity to the system, making it particularly dangerous in web-based environments where applications are accessible over the internet. Administrative access provides attackers with complete control over the portal's functionality, including the ability to manipulate listings, user permissions, and system configurations.
The security implications extend beyond immediate data compromise, as this vulnerability creates potential for further exploitation and lateral movement within affected networks. Attackers with administrative access can install malware, modify system parameters, and establish persistent access points. The vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, particularly in the areas of identity management and access control. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including proper input validation, secure session management, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities. The flaw underscores the importance of defense-in-depth strategies and proper authentication mechanisms that cannot be bypassed through simple parameter manipulation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting through web applications.