CVE-2008-7156 in EkinBoard
Summary
by MITRE
EkinBoard 1.1.0 and earlier, when register_globals is enabled, allows remote attackers to bypass authorization and gain administrator privileges by setting the _groups[] parameter to 2, as demonstrated via backup.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-7156 affects EkinBoard versions 1.1.0 and earlier, presenting a critical authorization bypass flaw that can be exploited remotely. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the PHP configuration parameter register_globals is enabled, creating a dangerous condition where user-supplied input can directly influence global variable scope. The flaw occurs in the backup.php script where an attacker can manipulate the _groups[] parameter to assume administrative privileges, effectively circumventing the application's security controls.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insecure parameter handling within the EkinBoard application. When register_globals is enabled, PHP automatically creates global variables from request data, including GET, POST, and COOKIE parameters. This configuration allows attackers to directly influence the application's internal state by manipulating request parameters. The _groups[] parameter in backup.php is particularly vulnerable because it is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed, enabling an attacker to set its value to 2 which corresponds to administrator privileges within the application's group membership system.
This authorization bypass vulnerability has significant operational impact as it allows remote attackers to escalate their privileges without requiring valid authentication credentials. The attacker can gain full administrative access to the EkinBoard application, enabling them to modify or delete content, access sensitive data, alter user accounts, and potentially compromise the entire system. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not need physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in web-facing applications.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and represents a classic example of insecure parameter handling that can lead to privilege escalation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078, which covers valid accounts and T1484, related to abuse of privileges. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately disable register_globals in their PHP configurations, implement proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, and upgrade to EkinBoard versions that address this specific authorization bypass flaw. Additionally, deploying web application firewalls and implementing proper access controls can provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future.