CVE-2013-2159 in HTTP Daemon
Summary
by MITRE
Monkey HTTP Daemon: broken user name authentication
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2024
The CVE-2013-2159 vulnerability affects the Monkey HTTP Daemon, a lightweight web server designed for embedded systems and IoT devices. This security flaw resides in the authentication mechanism of the web server, specifically within how it handles user name validation during the authentication process. The vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the server's access control implementation that could allow unauthorized users to bypass legitimate authentication checks and gain administrative privileges or access to protected resources.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of user credentials within the Monkey HTTP Daemon's authentication subsystem. When users attempt to authenticate with the web server, the system fails to properly verify or validate the provided user names against the configured authentication database. This flaw allows attackers to exploit the authentication routine through crafted user names or by manipulating the authentication flow, potentially enabling credential bypass attacks. The vulnerability specifically impacts the user name validation logic, which should have implemented proper input sanitization and verification mechanisms to prevent malicious inputs from being accepted as valid credentials.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2159 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can lead to complete system compromise when the Monkey HTTP Daemon is deployed in environments where it serves as a critical component for web-based management interfaces. Organizations using this web server in embedded devices, industrial control systems, or IoT deployments face significant risks, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain full administrative control over affected systems. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where the web server provides access to system configuration interfaces, file management capabilities, or other administrative functions that could be exploited for further compromise. This authentication bypass can enable attackers to modify system configurations, access sensitive data, or establish persistent access to networked devices.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the Monkey HTTP Daemon where available, as this vulnerability affects versions prior to the release that addressed the authentication flaw. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to web server interfaces to trusted networks only, while disabling unnecessary authentication methods that could be exploited. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for phishing attacks that might exploit this weakness to gain initial access. Organizations should also implement monitoring for suspicious authentication attempts and ensure that access controls are properly configured to limit the attack surface of affected systems. Given the embedded nature of many Monkey HTTP Daemon deployments, additional hardening measures including disabling unnecessary services, implementing strong password policies, and conducting regular security assessments of device configurations are recommended to reduce the risk of exploitation.