CVE-2010-5093 in SilverStripe
Summary
by MITRE
Member_ProfileForm in security/Member.php in SilverStripe 2.3.x before 2.3.7 allows remote attackers to hijack user accounts by saving data using the email address (ID) of another user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-5093 represents a critical account hijacking flaw within the SilverStripe content management system version 2.3.x prior to 2.3.7. This issue specifically affects the Member_ProfileForm component located in the security/Member.php file, which governs user profile management and authentication processes. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and user identification mechanisms that fail to properly verify ownership of account data during profile modifications.
The technical flaw manifests when a malicious actor exploits the system's handling of email addresses as user identifiers within the profile form functionality. Since email addresses serve as the primary identifier for user accounts in SilverStripe's authentication system, attackers can manipulate the Member_ProfileForm to save profile data using another user's email address as the ID parameter. This creates a scenario where an attacker can modify another user's profile information, potentially gaining unauthorized access to their account or impersonating them within the system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute account takeover attacks without requiring valid credentials for the target account. The impact extends beyond simple profile manipulation to potentially compromise user data integrity, enable unauthorized access to restricted resources, and facilitate further exploitation within the application environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates silently without requiring user interaction, allowing attackers to establish persistent access to compromised accounts.
The flaw aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and demonstrates weak authentication and session management practices. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation and credential access tactics, specifically leveraging the system's authentication mechanisms to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability also relates to the technique of account manipulation, where attackers modify account properties to establish persistence or gain additional privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching to SilverStripe version 2.3.7 or later, which implements proper email address validation and user ownership verification. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as enforcing strict input validation on all user profile data, implementing proper access controls for profile modification functions, and monitoring for unauthorized profile changes. Network-level protections including intrusion detection systems and web application firewalls can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of authentication and authorization mechanisms should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components.