CVE-2008-6231 in Pre Classified Listings
Summary
by MITRE
Pre Classified Listing PHP allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrative access by setting the (1) adminname and the (2) adminid cookies to "admin".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
This vulnerability exists in the Pre Classified Listing PHP application where remote attackers can exploit a weak authentication mechanism to gain administrative privileges. The flaw stems from improper validation of administrative credentials within the cookie-based authentication system, allowing unauthorized users to manipulate session identifiers to assume administrative roles. The vulnerability specifically targets the adminname and adminid cookie parameters, which when set to the value "admin" enable unauthorized access to administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insecure authentication handling where the application fails to properly validate user credentials before granting administrative access. This type of flaw falls under the category of weak authentication mechanisms and can be classified as CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues. The vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that directly violates the principle of least privilege, as legitimate administrative access should require proper credential verification rather than simple cookie manipulation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk for organizations using the Pre Classified Listing PHP application, as it allows remote attackers to bypass all authentication controls and gain full administrative access to the system. Attackers can exploit this weakness without requiring any valid credentials or knowledge of legitimate user accounts, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that handle sensitive data or user information. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data breaches, system compromise, and complete control over the application's functionality.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is significant as it requires no special tools or advanced techniques beyond basic web browser manipulation. Attackers can simply modify cookies in their browser to set adminname and adminid to "admin" and immediately gain administrative privileges. This type of exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.002 which covers abuse of cloud services and T1566.001 which involves spearphishing with a malicious attachment or link. Organizations should implement proper authentication controls, including session management validation, input sanitization, and role-based access controls to prevent such exploitation. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of proper cookie security mechanisms and the need for robust authentication frameworks that do not rely on easily manipulable session identifiers.
Mitigation strategies should include implementing proper session management with secure cookie attributes such as HttpOnly, Secure, and SameSite flags. Organizations must also implement proper authentication validation that verifies user credentials against a secure database rather than relying on cookie manipulation. Regular security audits, input validation, and proper access control mechanisms should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The application should enforce strong session management with unique session identifiers that cannot be easily guessed or manipulated by attackers. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring of authentication attempts can help detect and respond to such exploitation attempts in a timely manner.