CVE-2008-6296 in PHP Shop
Summary
by MITRE
admin.php in Maran PHP Shop allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrative access by setting the user cookie to "demo."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6296 resides within the admin.php component of Maran PHP Shop, a web-based e-commerce platform that was prevalent during the late 2000s era. This authentication bypass flaw represents a critical security weakness that fundamentally undermines the application's access control mechanisms and exposes administrative functionalities to unauthorized users. The vulnerability specifically affects the cookie-based authentication system where the application fails to properly validate user credentials before granting administrative privileges, creating a pathway for malicious actors to assume elevated roles without legitimate authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a hardcoded or improperly configured authentication check within the admin.php script. When an attacker sets the user cookie value to "demo," the application incorrectly interprets this specific string as a valid administrative user identifier, bypassing all standard authentication procedures. This flaw demonstrates poor input validation and authentication logic where the system relies on a predictable, static value rather than implementing proper credential verification. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor mechanism within the application's authentication flow, where any user who can manipulate cookies can gain full administrative access to the shop management interface.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to organizations using Maran PHP Shop, as it allows remote attackers to completely compromise administrative accounts from anywhere on the internet. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as administrative privileges typically grant control over user management, product catalog modifications, financial transaction handling, and system configuration changes. Attackers can manipulate product listings, alter pricing structures, access customer data, and potentially use the compromised administrative interface to install malicious code or conduct further attacks against the underlying infrastructure. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a classic example of weak session management and authentication bypass.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, making it attractive to a broad range of threat actors including script kiddies and organized attackers. Remote exploitation means no physical access or local network presence is required, and the cookie manipulation technique can be automated through various web-based tools or simple browser modifications. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of ATT&CK framework's T1078, which addresses valid accounts usage, and T1566, which covers credential harvesting techniques. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to leverage a valid account mechanism without proper authentication, making it a significant concern for organizations that may not have adequate network monitoring or intrusion detection systems in place to detect such unauthorized access attempts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-6296 should include immediate patching of the affected Maran PHP Shop version, as this vulnerability was likely addressed in subsequent releases through proper authentication implementation. Organizations should also implement comprehensive cookie security measures including secure flag settings, HttpOnly flags, and proper session management protocols. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to monitor for suspicious cookie manipulation patterns. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in legacy systems. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper authentication design and the dangers of relying on predictable or hardcoded values for access control decisions, emphasizing the need for robust security practices that follow established security frameworks and standards.