CVE-2008-6291 in Acc PHP eMail
Summary
by MITRE
Acc PHP eMail 1.1 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrative access by setting the NEWSLETTERLOGIN cookie to "admin".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The CVE-2008-6291 vulnerability affects Acc PHP eMail version 1.1, a web-based email management system that was widely used for newsletter distribution and email administration. This particular flaw represents a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that fundamentally undermines the security model of the application. The vulnerability resides in the cookie-based authentication mechanism where the system fails to properly validate user credentials before granting administrative privileges. When an attacker sets the NEWSLETTERLOGIN cookie to the value "admin", the application incorrectly grants full administrative access without requiring proper authentication credentials.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insecure credential handling where the application relies on client-side cookie manipulation to determine user privileges rather than implementing proper server-side authentication checks. The vulnerability exists because the application performs a simple string comparison against the cookie value without validating whether the user actually possesses administrative rights or has authenticated through legitimate means. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, specifically targeting weak authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote attackers to completely compromise the email management system without requiring any legitimate credentials or knowledge of user accounts. An attacker can gain full administrative control over the newsletter system, enabling them to modify email configurations, access subscriber lists, send unauthorized emails, and potentially use the compromised system as a platform for further attacks. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can leverage this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or prior knowledge of system credentials.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing proper server-side authentication validation mechanisms that do not rely on client-controlled cookie values for privilege determination. The application should enforce proper authentication checks before granting administrative access, validate user credentials through secure authentication mechanisms, and implement proper session management. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as input validation, cookie security attributes like HttpOnly and Secure flags, and regular security audits of web applications. The fix requires modifying the application code to remove the reliance on the NEWSLETTERLOGIN cookie for administrative access and instead implement a robust authentication system that properly validates user credentials before granting elevated privileges. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of server-side validation and proper authentication implementation in web applications to prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions.