CVE-2009-4929 in Totalcalender
Summary
by MITRE
admin/manage_users.php in TotalCalendar 2.4 does not require administrative authentication, which allows remote attackers to change arbitrary passwords via the newPW1 and newPW2 parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4929 affects TotalCalendar 2.4, a web-based calendar management system that exposes a critical authentication bypass flaw in its administrative user management component. This issue resides within the admin/manage_users.php script which fails to properly validate user credentials before executing administrative functions, creating a pathway for unauthorized remote exploitation. The flaw specifically manifests when attackers manipulate the newPW1 and newPW2 parameters to alter user passwords without possessing legitimate administrative privileges, fundamentally undermining the application's access control mechanisms.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability represents a classic authentication bypass weakness that aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper handling of authentication tokens and credentials. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement proper session validation or administrative privilege checks before processing password change requests. When the manage_users.php script receives requests containing the newPW1 and newPW2 parameters, it processes these inputs without verifying whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative permissions. This omission creates a direct attack vector that allows malicious actors to perform arbitrary password modifications across user accounts within the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to assume control over user accounts and potentially escalate their privileges within the application environment. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness from any location without requiring physical access or prior credentials, making the attack surface particularly concerning for web applications. The ability to change arbitrary passwords provides attackers with persistent access to the calendar system, potentially allowing them to modify calendar entries, access sensitive scheduling information, or create new administrative accounts. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the lack of proper access control mechanisms and authentication enforcement.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves implementing robust authentication checks within the admin/manage_users.php script to verify administrative privileges before processing password change requests. This includes validating session tokens, checking user roles against administrative permissions, and ensuring that only authorized administrators can access the user management functions. Organizations should also implement proper input validation and parameter sanitization to prevent injection attacks that might exploit similar weaknesses. Additionally, the application should enforce proper access controls using role-based access control mechanisms and maintain comprehensive audit logs of administrative activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of defense in depth strategies and proper security testing practices as outlined in NIST SP 800-53, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring and validation of access control implementations. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities that might exist in other components of the application or related systems.