CVE-2012-2437 in ar web content manager
Summary
by MITRE
cookie_gen.php in ar web content manager (AWCM) 2.2 does not require authentication, which allows remote attackers to generate arbitrary cookies via the name parameter in conjunction with the content parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2437 resides within the ar web content manager version 2.2 where the cookie_gen.php script fails to implement proper authentication mechanisms. This critical flaw enables remote attackers to exploit the system by manipulating the name and content parameters to generate arbitrary cookies, fundamentally undermining the application's security posture. The absence of authentication checks creates an attack vector that bypasses normal access controls and allows unauthorized users to manipulate session tokens and user permissions within the web application.
This vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient authentication and improper input validation, aligning with CWE-287 which addresses authentication failures and CWE-20 which covers improper input validation. The technical implementation flaw occurs at the application logic level where the cookie generation functionality does not verify user credentials or validate the legitimacy of cookie requests before processing them. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious requests that specify arbitrary cookie names and content values, effectively allowing them to create unauthorized session tokens or manipulate existing user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple cookie manipulation as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive application functionality and user data. Remote attackers can generate cookies with elevated privileges or create session tokens that grant them unauthorized access to protected areas of the web application. This weakness can be exploited to escalate privileges, bypass access controls, or even gain administrative access to the content management system, depending on how the application utilizes the generated cookies. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates entirely remotely without requiring any prior access credentials or physical presence.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2437 should focus on implementing proper authentication mechanisms before allowing any cookie generation operations to proceed. The system must validate user credentials and verify authorization levels before processing cookie requests, ensuring that only authenticated and authorized users can generate new cookies. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened to sanitize all parameters received from external sources, particularly the name and content fields that are directly manipulated in this attack vector. Organizations should also implement proper session management practices and consider implementing rate limiting or monitoring for unusual cookie generation patterns. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.002 which covers abuse of cloud compute resources and T1566.002 which involves spearphishing with social engineering, as attackers can leverage such weaknesses to establish persistent access to web applications. The remediation process should include immediate patching of the affected AWCM version and comprehensive security review of all cookie generation and session management functions within the application.