CVE-2008-6772 in YourPlace
Summary
by MITRE
login/register_form.php in YourPlace 1.0.2 and earlier does not check that a username already exists when a new account is created, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions by registering a new account with the username of a target user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-6772 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the YourPlace 1.0.2 content management system and earlier versions. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and account creation logic that fails to enforce unique username constraints during the registration process. The flaw exists specifically in the login/register_form.php component, which serves as the primary interface for user account creation within the application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic race condition and validation bypass scenario where the system does not perform proper duplicate username checking before creating new user accounts. When a remote attacker attempts to register a new account, the application fails to verify whether the requested username already exists in the system database. This omission creates a path for unauthorized users to claim usernames that belong to existing legitimate users, effectively enabling account takeover and privilege escalation attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability fundamentally undermines the security model of the application by allowing attackers to assume the identity of legitimate users. The flaw enables attackers to register accounts using target usernames, potentially gaining access to restricted resources, modifying user data, or performing actions that should be limited to specific user groups. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise if the targeted accounts possess administrative or elevated permissions.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-305 authentication bypass weakness and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 legitimate credentials, as it allows attackers to obtain valid user credentials through unauthorized registration rather than through traditional attack vectors like password guessing or credential theft. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it operates at the authentication layer, affecting the fundamental security controls that protect user access. This flaw also demonstrates poor input validation practices that could be exploited in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to escalate privileges or maintain persistent access to the system.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including enforcing strict username uniqueness validation, implementing proper database constraints, and conducting thorough input sanitization checks during account registration processes. The fix requires modifications to the register_form.php script to include database lookups before account creation and proper error handling for duplicate username attempts. Additionally, implementing rate limiting on registration attempts and monitoring for suspicious account creation patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review all user registration flows across their applications to identify similar validation bypass vulnerabilities that could be exploited in the same manner.