CVE-2009-0662 in PlonePAS
Summary
by MITRE
The PlonePAS product 3.x before 3.9 and 3.2.x before 3.2.2, a product for Plone, does not properly handle the login form, which allows remote authenticated users to acquire the identity of an arbitrary user via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0662 affects PlonePAS versions 3.x before 3.9 and 3.2.x before 3.2.2, representing a significant authentication flaw within the Plone content management system ecosystem. This vulnerability resides in the login form handling mechanism of the PlonePAS product, which serves as a critical authentication and authorization component for Plone installations. The flaw enables remote authenticated users to exploit a weakness in the identity management system, potentially allowing them to impersonate arbitrary users within the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and handling of authentication parameters within the login form processing logic. While the exact vectors remain unspecified in the original description, this type of vulnerability typically involves manipulation of session tokens, authentication cookies, or user identifier parameters that are passed during the authentication process. The flaw allows an attacker who has already established an authenticated session to leverage this weakness to escalate privileges or assume the identity of other users within the system. This represents a classic case of insufficient access control validation that falls under the CWE-285 category of improper authorization mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-0662 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the trust model of the Plone authentication system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to sensitive user data, perform administrative actions on behalf of other users, or manipulate content within the Plone environment. The remote nature of the attack means that an authenticated user could potentially exploit this weakness from anywhere on the network, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users have legitimate access to the system. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as it allows for unauthorized access to user identities through legitimate authentication pathways.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the official patches released by the Plone community, specifically upgrading to PlonePAS versions 3.9 or 3.2.2 and later. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as monitoring authentication logs for suspicious activity, implementing strong session management practices, and ensuring that users have the minimum necessary privileges. Network segmentation and access controls should be reviewed to limit the potential impact of such an exploit. Security teams should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect outdated PlonePAS installations and alert administrators to potential exposure. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date authentication systems and the potential consequences of insufficient input validation in security-critical components.