CVE-2009-4876 in Netrix CMS
Summary
by MITRE
admin/cikkform.php in Netrix CMS 1.0 allows remote attackers to modify arbitrary pages via a direct request using the cid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4876 resides within the Netrix CMS 1.0 content management system, specifically in the admin/cikkform.php component. This flaw represents a critical access control vulnerability that enables remote attackers to manipulate arbitrary web pages through direct HTTP requests. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authorization checks within the content management interface, allowing unauthorized users to exploit the cid parameter to modify any page content within the system. The affected parameter cid appears to function as a content identifier that should normally be restricted to authorized administrators, but lacks proper access controls that would prevent unauthorized modification attempts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through direct manipulation of the cid parameter in the admin/cikkform.php script. When an attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request containing a modified cid value, the system processes this request without adequate authentication verification or privilege validation. This allows the attacker to bypass normal administrative controls and directly modify content that should be restricted to authorized personnel only. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input sanitization and access control implementation, where the application fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses legitimate administrative privileges before executing content modification operations. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited remotely without requiring any prior authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple content modification, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the entire content management system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can alter critical website content, inject malicious code, modify user access permissions, or even establish persistent backdoors within the system. The vulnerability creates an attack surface that allows for arbitrary file modification, potentially enabling attackers to compromise the entire website infrastructure. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and represents a failure in the application's security architecture. Organizations using Netrix CMS 1.0 become vulnerable to content tampering, which can result in reputational damage, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4876 should focus on implementing robust access controls and input validation mechanisms within the application. The most effective immediate solution involves adding comprehensive authentication checks and authorization verification before processing any cid parameter modifications. Security controls should include implementing proper session management, validating user privileges against the requested content identifiers, and sanitizing all input parameters to prevent injection attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege by ensuring that administrative functions require explicit authentication and that all operations are logged for audit purposes. Additionally, the vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and may relate to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar access control vulnerabilities in other components of the CMS, while also ensuring that all applications are updated to the latest security patches and that proper network segmentation is implemented to limit potential attack vectors.