CVE-2010-2685 in PageDirector CMS
Summary
by MITRE
siteadmin/adduser.php in Customer Paradigm PageDirector CMS does not properly restrict access, which allows remote attacks to bypass intended restrictions and add administrative users via a direct request.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2685 resides within the Customer Paradigm PageDirector Content Management System where the siteadmin/adduser.php script fails to implement proper access controls. This flaw represents a critical authorization bypass vulnerability that allows remote attackers to circumvent the intended security restrictions designed to protect administrative user creation functions. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authentication checks within the web application's administrative interface, specifically targeting the user account creation module that should only be accessible to authorized administrators.
This security weakness enables attackers to perform unauthorized administrative actions by directly accessing the adduser.php endpoint without proper authentication credentials. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through simple HTTP requests that bypass the normal authentication flow. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-285, which describes improper authorization conditions in software applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1543 for create or modify system process. The attack vector is particularly dangerous as it allows remote code execution capabilities through administrative user creation, potentially enabling full system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include complete system takeover potential. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can create new administrative user accounts with full privileges, effectively gaining persistent access to the system. This allows for ongoing unauthorized access and control over the CMS environment. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the web application by enabling unauthorized modifications to the user access control mechanisms. The flaw also impacts the system's ability to maintain proper audit trails and security boundaries, as unauthorized users can bypass the normal administrative workflow.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-2685 should include immediate implementation of proper access controls and authentication checks within the adduser.php script. The system administrators should enforce mandatory authentication for all administrative functions and implement proper input validation to prevent direct endpoint access. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and block suspicious requests targeting administrative endpoints. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities. Additionally, the affected PageDirector CMS version should be updated to a patched release that addresses the improper access control implementation. Organizations should also implement proper logging and monitoring of administrative activities to detect unauthorized access attempts and user account creation events. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and highlights the need for defense-in-depth strategies that include both network and application-level security controls.