CVE-2009-1618 in LiveHelp
Summary
by MITRE
Teraway LiveHelp 2.0 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrative access via a pwd=&lvl=1&usr=&alias=admin&userid=1 value for the TWLHadmin cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1618 affects Teraway LiveHelp 2.0, a web-based customer support system that provides live chat functionality for websites. This authentication bypass flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows remote attackers to escalate privileges and gain full administrative control over the affected system. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insecure session management within the application's authentication mechanism, specifically targeting the TWLHadmin cookie implementation that governs administrative access levels.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the TWLHadmin cookie value, where attackers can craft a specific cookie payload containing parameters such as pwd=, lvl=1, usr=, alias=admin, and userid=1. This crafted cookie effectively impersonates an administrator user account without requiring legitimate credentials, exploiting a design flaw where the application fails to properly validate the authenticity of administrative session tokens. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts, as it allows unauthorized access through manipulated session data rather than brute force or credential theft methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over the Teraway LiveHelp system. Once authenticated as an administrator, attackers can modify or delete chat logs, alter system configurations, add or remove users, access sensitive customer data, and potentially use the compromised system as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or knowledge of valid user credentials, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for web applications that handle sensitive information. Organizations using this software face significant risks including data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patch or upgrade to a supported version of Teraway LiveHelp that addresses the authentication bypass flaw. System administrators should also implement network segmentation to limit access to the LiveHelp application, deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious cookie values, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict input validation for all cookie parameters, implement proper session management controls, and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized administrative access attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper authentication mechanisms, particularly in applications that handle user sessions and administrative privileges, as outlined in security standards such as OWASP Top Ten and NIST SP 800-53 controls for access control and authentication management.