CVE-2009-4095 in myPhile
Summary
by MITRE
myPhile 1.2.1 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication via an empty password. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/23/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4095 affects myPhile version 1.2.1, a web-based file management system that provides users with the ability to upload, download, and manage files through a web interface. This authentication bypass flaw represents a critical security weakness that could allow unauthorized users to gain access to protected resources without proper credentials. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system accepts empty password inputs during the authentication process, effectively creating a backdoor that bypasses normal access controls.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and authentication logic within the myPhile application. The system fails to properly validate password fields, allowing empty strings to be processed as valid authentication credentials. This flaw aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems. The vulnerability occurs at the application layer where the authentication mechanism does not adequately check for null or empty password values, treating them as valid credentials. This represents a classic case of weak credential validation that violates fundamental security principles for access control systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it allows remote attackers to completely bypass the authentication mechanism and gain unauthorized access to the file management system. Attackers can exploit this weakness without requiring any legitimate credentials, potentially leading to data theft, unauthorized file manipulation, system compromise, and further lateral movement within the network. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without physical access to the system. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access, as the system effectively accepts invalid credentials as valid.
Security professionals should consider implementing multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability. The most immediate solution involves patching the application to properly validate password inputs and reject empty or null values during authentication. System administrators should also implement network-level controls such as firewalls and access control lists to limit exposure of the vulnerable application to unauthorized networks. Additionally, monitoring and logging mechanisms should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and ensure proper input validation across all authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper credential handling and input validation in preventing unauthorized access to sensitive systems and data.