CVE-2008-6294 in Acc Statistics
Summary
by MITRE
admin/Index.php in Acc Statistics 1.1 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrative access by setting the username_cookie cookie to "admin."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
This vulnerability resides in the Acc Statistics 1.1 web application where the administrative interface suffers from a critical authentication bypass flaw. The issue manifests through improper session handling and credential validation mechanisms within the admin/Index.php script. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the username_cookie cookie value to "admin" which grants them unauthorized administrative privileges without proper authentication. This represents a fundamental failure in the application's access control implementation, allowing any remote attacker to escalate their privileges and gain full administrative control over the affected system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues in software applications. This weakness specifically demonstrates how insufficient input validation and cookie manipulation can lead to unauthorized access. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where the web application fails to properly verify the legitimacy of administrative credentials before granting access. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor mechanism through cookie manipulation that bypasses all standard authentication procedures. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no complex exploitation techniques and can be accomplished through simple cookie modification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for any organization using Acc Statistics 1.1. Once an attacker gains administrative access, they can execute arbitrary commands, modify or delete sensitive data, alter system configurations, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system, making it a critical security risk. Organizations may face data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and significant financial losses due to unauthorized access to administrative functions. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed remotely, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper authentication mechanisms and input validation controls. Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of Acc Statistics if a patch is available, or implement a temporary workaround by disabling cookie-based authentication and requiring proper credential verification. The application should enforce strong session management practices including secure cookie attributes, proper session timeout mechanisms, and validation of administrative privileges. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in other applications and implement proper code review processes to prevent such weaknesses from being introduced in future development cycles. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and adherence to secure coding practices as outlined in the mitre attack framework's privilege escalation techniques.