CVE-2008-6957 in Discuz!
Summary
by MITRE
member.php in Crossday Discuz! Board allows remote attackers to reset passwords of arbitrary users via crafted (1) lostpasswd and (2) getpasswd actions, possibly involving predictable generation of the id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-6957 affects the Crossday Discuz! Board software, specifically targeting the member.php script that handles user authentication and password management functions. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to exploit the password reset mechanism and gain unauthorized access to user accounts across the platform. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and unpredictable generation of identification parameters within the password recovery process, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the system's authentication flow.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves two distinct attack vectors through the lostpasswd and getpasswd actions within the member.php script. Attackers can craft specially formatted requests that manipulate the id parameter to target specific user accounts without requiring legitimate authentication credentials. The core flaw lies in the predictable generation of the id parameter, which allows adversaries to construct valid requests that bypass normal account validation procedures. This weakness directly relates to CWE-330 Use of Insufficiently Random Values, where the system fails to generate cryptographically secure identifiers that could be easily guessed or enumerated by attackers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple password manipulation, as it provides attackers with the capability to compromise user accounts and potentially gain access to sensitive personal information stored within the Discuz! Board platform. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this flaw from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system or knowledge of valid user credentials. This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized account takeovers, data breaches, and potential escalation of privileges within the affected system environment.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses all users of the Crossday Discuz boards are commonly used for community forums, bulletin boards, and user-generated content platforms, the potential impact of exploitation extends to organizations relying on these systems for user communication and collaboration. The vulnerability affects the authentication and session management components of the application, creating a fundamental weakness in the security architecture that could be leveraged for further attacks within the compromised environment.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and secure parameter generation within the password reset functionality. The system should generate cryptographically secure, unpredictable identifiers for password reset requests and implement proper rate limiting and account lockout mechanisms to prevent automated exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication factors and monitoring for suspicious password reset activities. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 Credential Access: Use of stolen credentials, where attackers can obtain access to user accounts through manipulation of authentication mechanisms. The remediation process requires immediate patching of the affected software version and implementation of proper security controls to prevent predictable parameter generation and ensure robust authentication validation processes.