CVE-2008-6947 in Collabtive
Summary
by MITRE
Collabtive 0.4.8 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and create new users, including administrators, via unspecified vectors associated with the added mode in a users action to admin.php.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6947 affects Collabtive version 0.4.8, a collaborative project management application that suffered from critical authentication bypass flaws. This vulnerability resides within the administrative interface of the application, specifically in how the system handles user creation and privilege assignment through the admin.php script. The flaw manifests when the application processes requests containing an 'added' mode parameter within user actions, creating a pathway for unauthenticated attackers to escalate their privileges and gain administrative control over the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the application's administrative functions. When an attacker crafts a malicious request to the admin.php endpoint with specific parameters including the 'added' mode, the application fails to properly verify whether the requester possesses valid administrative credentials. This weakness allows attackers to bypass the standard authentication checks that should prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables attackers to not only bypass authentication but also to create new user accounts with elevated privileges, including administrator-level access. This dual capability significantly amplifies the impact of the vulnerability, as attackers can establish persistent access to the system rather than simply gaining temporary unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete control over the Collabtive environment. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can manipulate project data, modify user permissions, access sensitive information, and potentially use the compromised system as a foothold for further attacks within the network. The ability to create administrator accounts means that attackers can maintain long-term access even if the initial exploit is detected and patched. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a critical failure in the application's security architecture, particularly concerning privilege management and access control enforcement. The flaw affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system, making it a severe security concern for any organization relying on this version of Collabtive.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of the application to the latest secure version that addresses this specific authentication bypass flaw. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative interfaces and enforce strict firewall rules that restrict direct access to admin.php endpoints. Additional security measures include implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, monitoring access logs for suspicious activities, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability would be classified under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 (Valid Accounts) and T1566 (Phishing). Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests attempting to exploit this specific vulnerability pattern. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, as well as the necessity of regular security updates and vulnerability assessments to maintain robust security postures.