CVE-2010-4803 in Mojolicious
Summary
by MITRE
Mojolicious before 0.999927 does not properly implement HMAC-MD5 checksums, which has unspecified impact and remote attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4803 affects the Mojolicious web framework version 0.999927 and earlier, specifically concerning the implementation of HMAC-MD5 checksums. This weakness resides in the cryptographic implementation layer of the framework, where the HMAC-MD5 algorithm is not properly executed, potentially compromising the integrity and authenticity of data transmitted through the application. The issue stems from the framework's failure to correctly apply the HMAC construction with MD5 hashing, creating a security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors. The unspecified impact and remote attack vectors indicate that this vulnerability could be leveraged across network boundaries to perform various malicious activities. The flaw represents a critical weakness in the framework's security architecture, particularly concerning authentication mechanisms and data integrity protection. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of cryptographic weakness and improper implementation of security primitives. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-327, which addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms and improper implementation of cryptographic functions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1552.001, which involves the use of unencrypted credentials and weak cryptographic implementations. The improper HMAC-MD5 implementation creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate authentication tokens, session identifiers, or other security-critical data that relies on this cryptographic function for protection. The remote nature of the attack vector suggests that adversaries could exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. The vulnerability affects applications built using Mojolicious that depend on HMAC-MD5 for security purposes, potentially allowing for session hijacking, authentication bypass, or data tampering attacks.
The technical flaw manifests in the cryptographic implementation where the HMAC-MD5 checksums are not correctly constructed or validated, creating a potential pathway for attackers to forge security tokens or manipulate data integrity checks. This improper implementation likely involves incorrect key handling, flawed hashing procedures, or inadequate padding mechanisms that weaken the overall cryptographic security. The vulnerability specifically impacts the framework's ability to properly verify the authenticity of messages or data through HMAC-MD5, which is commonly used for secure communication protocols and authentication systems. When HMAC-MD5 is improperly implemented, it can lead to situations where attackers can generate valid-looking checksums without possessing the secret key, effectively breaking the cryptographic security model. The weakness could also enable length extension attacks or other cryptographic vulnerabilities that are typically mitigated by proper HMAC construction. This type of flaw is particularly concerning because it affects the fundamental security mechanisms that applications rely upon for protecting sensitive data and authenticating users. The improper implementation creates a false sense of security, as developers might assume their applications are protected by secure cryptographic functions when in reality the security is compromised.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4803 extends beyond simple data integrity concerns, potentially enabling sophisticated attacks that could compromise entire application security models. Remote exploitation of this vulnerability could allow attackers to perform session hijacking attacks by manipulating authentication tokens that rely on HMAC-MD5 for validation. The weakness could also facilitate man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers intercept and modify communications without detection, particularly in applications that use HMAC-MD5 for message authentication. Applications using affected versions of Mojolicious may be vulnerable to credential theft, unauthorized access to protected resources, or data manipulation attacks that could compromise user privacy and system integrity. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in environments where the framework is used for critical security functions such as API authentication, session management, or secure data transmission. Organizations relying on Mojolicious applications may experience significant security breaches if this vulnerability is not addressed, potentially leading to regulatory compliance violations and reputational damage. The remote attack vectors suggest that this vulnerability could be exploited at scale, affecting multiple users or systems simultaneously, making it a high-priority security concern for administrators and security teams.
Mitigation of CVE-2010-4803 requires immediate action to upgrade affected Mojolicious installations to version 0.999927 or later, where the HMAC-MD5 implementation has been corrected. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all applications built with affected versions of the framework and ensure proper patching across all environments. Organizations should implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures for addressing cryptographic vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched applications to ensure that the cryptographic functions operate correctly and that no regressions have been introduced. Security teams should also consider implementing additional layers of protection such as intrusion detection systems and network monitoring to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits should be conducted to verify that cryptographic implementations remain secure and that no similar weaknesses have been introduced in other parts of the application stack. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation and the need for continuous security testing and validation of security-critical components within web applications. Organizations should also review their security policies and procedures to ensure that cryptographic libraries and frameworks are regularly updated and that security patches are applied promptly to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.