CVE-2008-7100 in DotNetNuke
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in DotNetNuke 4.4.1 through 4.8.4 allows remote authenticated users to bypass authentication and gain privileges via unknown vectors related to a "unique id" for user actions and improper validation of a "user identity."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-7100 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within DotNetNuke content management systems versions 4.4.1 through 4.8.4. This issue stems from inadequate validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify user identity claims, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges and potentially gain administrative access to the affected web applications. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified vectors related to a unique identifier used for tracking user actions within the system, which appears to be improperly validated or sanitized during authentication processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits weaknesses in the authentication framework where user identity tokens or session identifiers are not sufficiently validated before being accepted as legitimate. This allows malicious users who have already established a valid session to manipulate or forge authentication tokens that would normally require elevated privileges to access restricted administrative functions. The flaw specifically targets the validation of user identity components, potentially allowing attackers to impersonate other users or elevate their own privileges without proper authorization checks. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication mechanisms and improper privilege management within applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-7100 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable attackers to execute a wide range of malicious activities including data manipulation, content injection, user account compromise, and potentially full system control. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to administrative panels, modify website content, delete or alter user accounts, and access sensitive system information. The authentication bypass capability makes this particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to operate with elevated privileges while remaining undetected, potentially enabling persistent access to the compromised system. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of web applications built on DotNetNuke platforms, creating opportunities for data breaches and system compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches from DotNetNuke, reviewing and strengthening authentication mechanisms, and implementing additional access controls such as multi-factor authentication. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious authentication patterns and privilege escalation attempts. Security configurations should be reviewed to ensure proper validation of user identity tokens and implementation of robust session management practices. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1078 credential access tactic, where adversaries leverage weak authentication mechanisms to gain elevated system access. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar issues in legacy systems and ensure proper patch management protocols are maintained across all web applications.