CVE-2009-1283 in glFusion
Summary
by MITRE
glFusion before 1.1.3 performs authentication with a user-provided password hash instead of a password, which allows remote attackers to gain privileges by obtaining the hash and using it in the glf_password cookie, aka "User Masquerading." NOTE: this can be leveraged with a separate SQL injection vulnerability to steal hashes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-1283 affects glFusion content management systems prior to version 1.1.3 and represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that enables remote attackers to escalate privileges through user masquerading techniques. This issue stems from a fundamental design flaw in how the system handles user authentication processes, specifically in the password verification mechanism. The vulnerability operates by exploiting a weakness in the authentication flow where the system accepts and validates user-provided password hashes rather than properly verifying the actual password submitted by users during login attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the glFusion system's handling of the glf_password cookie, which contains authentication tokens that should normally be generated through proper password validation processes. When an attacker can obtain a valid password hash through separate means such as SQL injection attacks, they can directly manipulate the glf_password cookie to impersonate legitimate users. This creates a scenario where the authentication system accepts the hash as valid credentials, effectively bypassing the normal password verification process that should occur during login. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts and potentially administrative privileges without needing to know the actual passwords.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-1283 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to perform privilege escalation and maintain persistent access to compromised systems. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. The attack vector becomes significantly more dangerous when combined with other vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, as demonstrated in the advisory's note about leveraging SQL injection to steal password hashes. This combination allows attackers to first exploit SQL injection to extract hash values from the database, then use those hashes to manipulate the glf_password cookie and gain unauthorized access. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor mechanism that allows attackers to masquerade as legitimate users without requiring knowledge of their actual passwords, making it particularly difficult to detect and trace.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-1283 require immediate system updates to glFusion version 1.1.3 or later, which addresses the core authentication flaw by ensuring that password hashes are properly validated against actual user passwords rather than accepting them directly from cookies. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of authentication-related activities and cookie manipulation attempts to detect suspicious behavior patterns. Security measures should include regular vulnerability assessments, proper input validation, and the implementation of secure authentication protocols that do not rely on client-side cookie manipulation for access control decisions. Additionally, the system should enforce proper session management practices and implement multi-factor authentication mechanisms to reduce the impact of credential compromise. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and proper authentication design principles that prevent attackers from bypassing authentication through manipulation of authentication tokens or cookies.