CVE-2009-2945 in WebAuth
Summary
by MITRE
weblogin/login.fcgi (aka the WebLogin login script) in Stanford University WebAuth 3.5.5, 3.6.0, and 3.6.1 places passwords in URLs in certain circumstances involving conversion of a POST request to a GET request, which allows context-dependent attackers to discover passwords by reading (1) web-server access logs, (2) web-server Referer logs, or (3) the browser history.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2945 affects Stanford University WebAuth versions 3.5.5, 3.6.0, and 3.6.1, specifically within the weblogin/login.fcgi script component. This security flaw represents a critical exposure in web application authentication mechanisms where sensitive credential information becomes inadvertently exposed through URL construction. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes authentication requests and converts POST requests to GET requests under certain conditions, creating a pathway for attackers to obtain password data through legitimate system logging mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of HTTP request methods within the WebAuth authentication flow. When a POST request containing authentication credentials is converted to a GET request, the password parameters are appended to the URL as query string variables rather than remaining within the request body. This conversion process violates fundamental security principles for credential transmission and creates a direct exposure vector. The flaw aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and specifically demonstrates weaknesses in secure authentication protocol implementation where sensitive data is transmitted in an insecure manner.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it creates multiple attack vectors through different logging mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by accessing web-server access logs where the URL containing the password parameters is recorded, or by examining Referer logs that may contain the malicious URLs in the context of web navigation. Additionally, browser history mechanisms may retain these URLs, providing another avenue for credential recovery. This multi-layered exposure significantly increases the attack surface and reduces the effectiveness of traditional security controls that might protect against direct network interception.
The security implications of this vulnerability represent a fundamental breach in the principle of least privilege and secure credential handling. WebAuth systems are designed to provide secure authentication services, yet this flaw allows attackers to bypass normal access controls by leveraging legitimate system logging infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear failure in input sanitization and request processing that violates core web security best practices. Organizations using affected versions of WebAuth face significant risk of credential compromise, particularly in environments where web server logs are not properly secured or where unauthorized personnel have access to system logging infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2945 require immediate implementation of protocol-level fixes to prevent POST-to-GET request conversion for authentication flows. System administrators should upgrade to patched versions of Stanford University WebAuth that properly handle authentication requests without exposing credentials in URLs. Additionally, organizations should implement strict access controls on web server log files, ensure proper log file permissions, and consider implementing log monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on suspicious URL patterns. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security testing of authentication flows to ensure no similar vulnerabilities exist in related components, following ATT&CK framework principles for credential access and defense evasion techniques. Organizations should also review their browser security policies and implement measures to prevent sensitive data from being stored in browser history or cache mechanisms.