CVE-2009-4584 in Multimedia Links Directory
Summary
by MITRE
admin.php in dB Masters Multimedia Links Directory 3.1.3 allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrative access via a certain value of the admin_log cookie.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-4584 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the dB Masters Multimedia Links Directory version 3.1.3 web application. This issue specifically targets the administrative interface through manipulation of the admin_log cookie parameter, allowing unauthenticated remote attackers to escalate their privileges and gain full administrative control over the affected system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper session management mechanisms that fail to properly authenticate users before granting access to privileged administrative functions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the admin_log cookie value, which is typically used to maintain administrative session state within the web application. When an attacker crafts a specially formatted cookie value, the application fails to validate the authenticity of this parameter, allowing the malicious user to assume administrative privileges without proper authentication. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of weak session management and improper access control, commonly categorized as CWE-287 - Improper Authentication and CWE-305 - Authentication Bypass Using Alternative Input. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's security architecture where cookie-based authentication mechanisms are not properly validated or verified.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations using the affected software. Successful exploitation enables attackers to perform any administrative function within the multimedia links directory, including but not limited to adding or removing links, modifying user permissions, accessing sensitive data, and potentially compromising the entire web application infrastructure. This authentication bypass can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized modifications to the multimedia content management system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote exploitation without requiring any prior credentials or privileged access, making it an attractive target for automated attacks and malicious actors seeking to gain unauthorized control over web applications.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several tactics and techniques outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically covering privilege escalation and credential access phases. The attack pattern demonstrates techniques such as credential dumping and exploitation of weak authentication mechanisms, which are commonly observed in advanced persistent threat campaigns. Organizations should consider implementing robust input validation controls, proper session management practices, and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The remediation strategy should include immediate patching of the affected software version, implementation of proper cookie validation mechanisms, and deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious cookie parameter manipulations. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security reviews of all authentication mechanisms and implement multi-factor authentication where possible to reduce the attack surface and prevent unauthorized administrative access to critical web applications.