CVE-2009-1617 in LinkTracker
Summary
by MITRE
Teraway LinkTracker 1.0 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrative access via a userid=1&lvl=1 value for the twLTadmin cookie.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2024
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2009-1617 affects Teraway LinkTracker version 1.0, a web-based link management system that suffered from a critical authentication bypass flaw. This issue stems from improper input validation and insecure cookie handling mechanisms within the application's administrative interface. The vulnerability specifically manifests when an attacker manipulates the twLTadmin cookie value to include userid=1&lvl=1 parameters, effectively allowing unauthorized access to administrative functions without proper credentials.
The technical flaw resides in the application's session management and privilege escalation mechanisms. When the twLTadmin cookie is crafted with the specific parameters userid=1&lvl=1, the system incorrectly interprets these values as legitimate administrative credentials. This represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference vulnerability where the application fails to properly validate user privileges before granting access to administrative functions. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for systems where administrative access could lead to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote attackers to bypass authentication entirely and assume administrative privileges within the LinkTracker system. An attacker could potentially modify, delete, or add links, manipulate user accounts, access sensitive data, and perform other administrative functions that would normally require legitimate administrative credentials. This vulnerability enables a wide range of malicious activities including data theft, system modification, and potential lateral movement within networks where the vulnerable system resides. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper handling of authentication tokens, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts, where an attacker leverages manipulated session tokens to gain unauthorized access. Organizations using Teraway LinkTracker 1.0 should immediately implement mitigations including patching the application to properly validate cookie contents, implementing proper input sanitization for all cookie parameters, and ensuring that privilege levels are strictly enforced through server-side validation. Additional protective measures include implementing network segmentation, monitoring for suspicious cookie manipulation patterns, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing proper access control mechanisms that do not rely solely on client-side cookie values for privilege determination.