CVE-2009-5076 in CRE Loaded
Summary
by MITRE
CRE Loaded before 6.2.14, and possibly other versions before 6.3.x, allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and gain administrator privileges via a request with (1) login.php or (2) password_forgotten.php appended as the PATH_INFO, which bypasses a check that uses PHP_SELF, which is not properly handled by (a) includes/application_top.php and (b) admin/includes/application_top.php, as exploited in the wild in 2009.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-5076 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting CRE Loaded e-commerce platforms prior to version 6.2.14 and potentially other versions before 6.3.x. This vulnerability exploits a fundamental weakness in how the application handles server variables, specifically the PHP_SELF parameter, which is used for security checks but fails to properly validate incoming requests. The flaw enables remote attackers to escalate privileges without proper authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous for web applications handling sensitive commerce data. The vulnerability was actively exploited in 2009, indicating its significance and the immediate need for remediation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of the PATH_INFO server variable within the application's authentication flow. When requests are made to login.php or password_forgotten.php with these filenames appended to the PATH_INFO, the system bypasses critical authentication checks that rely on PHP_SELF. The core issue exists in two primary files: includes/application_top.php and admin/includes/application_top.php, where the PHP_SELF variable is not properly sanitized or validated. This misconfiguration allows attackers to manipulate the request path in a way that circumvents the intended security controls, effectively allowing unauthorized access to administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete administrative control over affected CRE Loaded installations. This level of access enables malicious actors to modify product catalogs, manipulate pricing, access customer data, alter payment processing configurations, and potentially compromise the entire e-commerce infrastructure. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it attractive to attackers seeking to compromise online stores for financial gain or data theft. Organizations running affected versions face significant risk of data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage due to the ease of exploitation and the comprehensive access granted.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-5076 require immediate patching of affected CRE Loaded installations to version 6.2.14 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper PHP_SELF handling. System administrators should also implement input validation measures to sanitize PATH_INFO parameters and restrict direct access to administrative endpoints. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and access control lists can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," and represents a classic example of how improper server variable handling can lead to authentication bypasses, similar to techniques documented in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation tactics. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components that might be vulnerable to PATH_INFO manipulation attacks.