CVE-2008-6763 in Silentum LoginSys
Summary
by MITRE
login2.php in Silentum LoginSys 1.0.0 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and obtain access to an arbitrary account by setting the logged_in cookie to that account s username.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6763 affects Silentum LoginSys version 1.0.0 and represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that undermines the security posture of web applications relying on this login system. This issue stems from improper input validation and insecure session management practices within the login2.php component, creating a pathway for remote attackers to assume arbitrary user identities without legitimate credentials. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanism by exploiting how the system handles the logged_in cookie parameter, which should normally be protected and validated but instead accepts direct user input that can be manipulated to gain unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the insecure handling of session tokens and authentication state management. When users attempt to log into the system, the application sets a logged_in cookie containing what should be a secure session identifier or user authentication token. However, the flawed implementation allows attackers to directly manipulate this cookie value to any valid username within the system, effectively bypassing all authentication checks. This represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference vulnerability where user input directly controls access to system resources, falling under CWE-639 which specifically addresses authorization bypass through manipulation of object references. The flaw demonstrates poor separation between authentication and authorization logic, where the system fails to validate that the user attempting to access a session is actually the legitimate owner of that session.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using Silentum LoginSys 1.0.0, as it allows attackers to gain access to any user account within the system without requiring legitimate credentials or exploiting other attack vectors. The remote nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can exploit it from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system or knowledge of valid usernames through social engineering. This authentication bypass can lead to complete system compromise, data theft, privilege escalation, and unauthorized modification of user accounts. The vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, making it particularly dangerous for applications handling sensitive user data or administrative functions. Attackers can leverage this flaw to impersonate any user, potentially accessing confidential information, modifying account settings, or performing actions with the privileges of the targeted user.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation, secure session management, and robust authentication mechanisms. Organizations should immediately upgrade to a patched version of Silentum LoginSys or implement proper cookie validation that ensures session tokens are cryptographically secure and cannot be manipulated by attackers. The system should validate that session identifiers are properly generated using strong random number generators and include integrity checks to prevent tampering. Additionally, implementing proper access control checks that verify user permissions and session validity before granting access to protected resources would prevent this type of unauthorized access. Security measures should include monitoring for suspicious cookie manipulation attempts and implementing proper logging of authentication events to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts usage, and T1566 which addresses credential harvesting through social engineering or direct manipulation of authentication systems. The remediation process should also include security code reviews to identify similar patterns in other components of the application that might present similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities.