CVE-2008-7181 in Butterfly Organizer
Summary
by MITRE
Butterfly Organizer 2.0.0 allows remote attackers to (1) delete arbitrary categories via a modified tablehere parameter to category-delete.php with the is_js_confirmed parameter set to 1, or (2) delete arbitrary accounts via the mytable parameter to delete.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-7181 affects Butterfly Organizer version 2.0.0, a web-based application designed for managing personal organizational data. This vulnerability represents a critical authorization flaw that enables remote attackers to manipulate the application's core functionality through crafted HTTP requests. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and improper access control mechanisms within the application's category and account management modules.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through direct manipulation of web parameters that control sensitive operations within the application's backend. Attackers can exploit the first vector by modifying the tablehere parameter in requests directed to category-delete.php while simultaneously setting the is_js_confirmed parameter to 1, thereby bypassing the intended confirmation mechanisms and executing unauthorized category deletion operations. The second vector allows attackers to manipulate the mytable parameter in delete.php requests, enabling them to delete arbitrary user accounts from the system. Both attack vectors demonstrate a fundamental lack of proper parameter validation and authentication checks, allowing unauthenticated or unauthorized users to perform administrative actions.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-863, which describes "Incorrect Authorization" - a condition where the application fails to properly verify that an actor is authorized to perform a requested operation. The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it compromises the integrity and availability of the application's data structure. Remote attackers can systematically delete organizational categories that may contain critical personal information, potentially leading to data loss and disruption of service. Additionally, the ability to delete arbitrary accounts creates a significant risk to user privacy and system security, as it could be used to eliminate user access or create denial of service conditions through account removal.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires minimal privileges to execute and can be performed remotely without requiring any legitimate user credentials. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts," as unauthorized actors can leverage the application's administrative functions to compromise user data. The vulnerability represents a classic example of insufficient input sanitization combined with weak access controls, allowing attackers to escalate privileges through parameter manipulation. Organizations using Butterfly Organizer 2.0.0 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation for all web parameters, implementation of proper access control checks, and enforcement of CSRF tokens to prevent unauthorized operations. Additionally, regular security audits and parameter validation should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future application versions. The lack of proper authentication verification mechanisms in this application demonstrates a critical gap in secure coding practices that aligns with the OWASP Top Ten category A07:2021 - Identification and Authentication Failures, emphasizing the need for robust authentication and authorization controls in web applications.