CVE-2013-4178 in Ga Login
Summary
by MITRE
The Google Authenticator login module 6.x-1.x before 6.x-1.2 and 7.x-1.x before 7.x-1.4 for Drupal allows remote attackers to obtain access by replaying the username, password, and one-time password (OTP).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-4178 affects the Google Authenticator login module for Drupal content management systems, specifically versions 6.x-1.x prior to 6.x-1.2 and 7.x-1.x prior to 7.x-1.4. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the fundamental purpose of two-factor authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of authentication tokens during the login process, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to exploit the system's security controls.
The technical flaw manifests in the module's inability to properly validate and track one-time passwords, allowing attackers to replay previously used authentication credentials. When a user successfully authenticates using Google Authenticator, the system should invalidate the one-time password to prevent reuse. However, in affected versions, this validation mechanism fails, enabling attackers to capture valid authentication sequences and reuse them against the system. This vulnerability directly violates the core principle of time-based one-time passwords as defined in RFC 6238 and the underlying security model of multi-factor authentication systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Attackers can gain unauthorized access to Drupal sites that rely on Google Authenticator for additional security layers, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The replay attack capability means that even if users have strong passwords and legitimate OTP tokens, the authentication process becomes vulnerable to exploitation. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that depend on Drupal for critical web applications, as it undermines the trust placed in the two-factor authentication implementation. The attack vector is remote and requires no privileged access, making it particularly dangerous for widely accessible web applications.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the patched versions of the Google Authenticator module for Drupal, specifically versions 6.x-1.2 and 7.x-1.4. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring for authentication patterns and anomaly detection to identify potential replay attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic issues related to the improper use of one-time passwords, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for credential stuffing attacks. Additionally, this issue demonstrates the importance of proper session management and token validation as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security principles, particularly focusing on the weakness of inadequate authentication mechanisms that allow for credential reuse attacks.