CVE-2009-0460 in Ware Support
Summary
by MITRE
Whole Hog Ware Support 1.x allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and obtain administrative access via an integer value in the adminid cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0460 affects Whole Hog Ware Support version 1.x software, presenting a critical security flaw that enables remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain administrative privileges. This issue stems from improper input validation within the application's authentication system, specifically targeting the adminid cookie parameter that is used to verify administrative access rights. The vulnerability represents a classic example of insecure authentication handling where the system fails to properly validate user credentials and session identifiers.
The technical flaw manifests when an attacker manipulates the adminid cookie value with an integer parameter that allows unauthorized access to administrative functions. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of authentication bypass attacks and can be classified as CWE-287 - Improper Authentication. The vulnerability exists because the application does not properly validate the integrity of the cookie value or verify that the administrative privileges are legitimate. The integer value in the cookie likely represents a user identifier or privilege level that the application accepts without proper verification, allowing attackers to escalate their privileges by simply modifying this value to a known administrative identifier.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe security risk for organizations using Whole Hog Ware Support 1.x software. Attackers who can exploit this vulnerability gain full administrative control over the affected system, which could lead to complete system compromise, data theft, unauthorized modifications to system configurations, and potential lateral movement within the network. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries do not require physical access or local system credentials to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 - Valid Accounts, as it allows attackers to assume administrative privileges without legitimate authentication.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves intercepting or modifying network traffic to manipulate the adminid cookie value, followed by sending requests to administrative endpoints that would normally require proper authentication. Security professionals should note that this type of vulnerability often indicates broader issues within the application's security architecture, particularly regarding session management and access control implementation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing proper input validation and ensuring that all authentication tokens are properly verified and authenticated before granting elevated privileges.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to a patched version of Whole Hog Ware Support software, implementing proper cookie validation mechanisms, and strengthening access control policies. Network segmentation and monitoring for unusual cookie modifications can help detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the need for regular security assessments and proper security testing of authentication mechanisms to identify similar flaws before they can be exploited by malicious actors. This case serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper authentication implementation and the potential consequences when such mechanisms are inadequately validated.