CVE-2008-6553 in Micro-CMS
Summary
by MITRE
microcms-admin-home.php in Implied by Design Micro CMS (Micro-CMS) 3.5 (aka 0.3.5) does not require authentication as an administrator, which allows remote attackers to (1) create administrative accounts via an add_admin action, (2) remove administrative accounts via a delete_admin action, and (3) modify administrative passwords via a change_password action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6553 affects Micro-CMS version 3.5, also known as 0.3.5, developed by Implied by Design. This critical security flaw resides in the microcms-admin-home.php file which governs administrative functions within the content management system. The vulnerability represents a fundamental failure in the application's access control mechanisms, specifically targeting the administrative interface that should be protected from unauthorized access. The absence of proper authentication requirements for administrative actions creates a severe pathway for malicious actors to compromise the entire system.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of authentication checks within the administrative control panel, allowing any remote attacker to execute three distinct administrative operations without proper authorization. The add_admin action enables attackers to create new administrative accounts, effectively expanding their attack surface and establishing persistent access to the system. The delete_admin action permits the removal of existing administrative accounts, potentially allowing attackers to eliminate legitimate administrators or disrupt system operations. The change_password action provides the capability to modify administrative credentials, directly compromising the security of existing administrator accounts and potentially locking out legitimate users. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a classic case of insufficient access control within web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial and far-reaching for any organization utilizing this version of Micro-CMS. Remote attackers can gain complete administrative control over the content management system, enabling them to modify website content, deface the public-facing website, steal sensitive data, or use the compromised system as a platform for further attacks. The ability to create new administrative accounts means that attackers can establish backdoors that persist even after the initial compromise is discovered. The deletion of administrative accounts can cause operational disruptions and may be used to cover tracks or prevent legitimate administrators from accessing the system. The password modification capability allows attackers to gain long-term access to the system while potentially making it difficult for administrators to regain control. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials and T1566 which involves credential harvesting and abuse.
Organizations utilizing Micro-CMS version 3.5 should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves implementing proper authentication mechanisms that require valid administrative credentials before allowing access to administrative functions. This includes enforcing session management, implementing strong password policies, and ensuring that administrative actions are protected by robust authentication checks. Network-level protections such as firewalls and access control lists should be configured to restrict access to administrative interfaces to trusted IP addresses only. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can monitor for suspicious administrative activities. The most effective long-term solution involves upgrading to a supported version of Micro-CMS that addresses this authentication flaw. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's infrastructure. System administrators should also implement logging mechanisms that track all administrative activities to facilitate incident response and forensic analysis when such vulnerabilities are exploited.