CVE-2008-6844 in eZ Publish
Summary
by MITRE
The registration view (/user/register) in eZ Publish 3.5.6 and earlier, and possibly other versions before 3.9.5, 3.10.1, and 4.0.1, allows remote attackers to gain privileges as other users via modified ContentObjectAttribute_data_user_login_30, ContentObjectAttribute_data_user_password_30, and other parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-6844 represents a critical privilege escalation issue within the eZ Publish content management system that affects versions up to 3.5.6 and potentially earlier releases in the 3.9.x, 3.10.x, and 4.0.x series. This flaw exists in the user registration functionality where attackers can manipulate specific parameters to assume the identities of existing users within the system. The vulnerability specifically targets the registration view at /user/register where user account creation and modification parameters are processed without proper validation or authorization checks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on the improper handling of ContentObjectAttribute parameters during user registration processes. Attackers can modify the ContentObjectAttribute_data_user_login_30 and ContentObjectAttribute_data_user_password_30 parameters along with other related attributes to manipulate the registration flow and potentially create accounts with elevated privileges or overwrite existing user accounts. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-264 category of "Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls" and specifically relates to CWE-284 which deals with "Improper Access Control." The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insufficient input validation where user-supplied data directly influences system behavior without proper sanitization or authorization verification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts and potentially escalate their privileges within the eZ Publish system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could create accounts with administrative privileges, modify existing user accounts, or gain access to sensitive content and system resources that should be restricted to authorized users only. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no prior authentication and can be executed remotely, making it a significant threat to organizations relying on eZ Publish for their web content management needs.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to patched versions of eZ Publish, specifically versions 3.9.5, 3.10.1, and 4.0.1 or later. The patching strategy should involve not only upgrading the core system but also reviewing and hardening the registration process to ensure proper parameter validation and access control mechanisms are in place. Additionally, implementing network-level protections such as firewall rules that restrict access to the registration endpoint, monitoring for unusual registration patterns, and conducting regular security audits of user account management processes can help mitigate the risk. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1496 for Resource Hijacking, as attackers can leverage this flaw to establish persistent access and potentially compromise system resources. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and input validation controls to prevent parameter manipulation attacks and ensure that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed by the application.