CVE-2009-4909 in oBlog
Summary
by MITRE
admin/index.php in oBlog allows remote attackers to conduct brute-force password guessing attacks via HTTP requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4909 affects the oBlog content management system where the administrative interface located at admin/index.php fails to implement adequate protection mechanisms against automated authentication attempts. This flaw enables remote attackers to systematically guess valid administrative credentials through repeated HTTP requests without triggering effective rate limiting or account lockout measures. The vulnerability represents a classic authentication weakness that directly undermines the security posture of the affected system.
This issue stems from insufficient input validation and authentication control mechanisms within the administrative login endpoint. The absence of protective measures such as account lockout policies, rate limiting, or CAPTCHA verification creates an exploitable condition where attackers can perform unlimited login attempts against the administrative interface. The vulnerability manifests as a failure to implement proper session management and authentication throttling controls that are fundamental to preventing automated credential guessing attacks. According to CWE-307, this vulnerability falls under improper restriction of repeated authentication attempts, which directly enables brute-force attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-4909 extends beyond simple credential theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise. Once an attacker gains administrative access, they can modify content, escalate privileges, install malware, or establish persistent backdoors within the affected environment. The remote nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access or network proximity to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous for web applications. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003, which covers credential guessing through brute force methods, and demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper authentication controls in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include implementing robust rate limiting mechanisms that restrict the number of authentication attempts within a given time period, enforcing account lockout policies after a specified number of failed attempts, and implementing CAPTCHA verification for login forms. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious authentication patterns. The implementation of strong password policies and multi-factor authentication can significantly reduce the risk associated with credential guessing attacks. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar authentication weaknesses in other components of the application stack.