CVE-2014-2871 in Commonspot Content Server
Summary
by MITRE
PaperThin CommonSpot before 7.0.2 and 8.x before 8.0.3 relies on an HTTP session for entering credentials on login pages, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by sniffing the network.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2871 affects PaperThin CommonSpot content management systems prior to versions 7.0.2 and 8.0.3, representing a critical security flaw in the authentication mechanism that exposes sensitive user credentials to remote attackers. This issue stems from the application's reliance on HTTP sessions for credential handling during the login process, creating an exploitable vector that undermines the fundamental security posture of the system.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper handling of authentication credentials within the HTTP protocol stack, where user login information flows through unencrypted network channels instead of being secured through proper transport layer encryption. This design decision creates a man-in-the-middle attack surface where network traffic can be intercepted and analyzed by malicious actors with access to the network infrastructure. The vulnerability specifically exploits the lack of secure communication channels for credential transmission, allowing attackers to capture login data through network packet sniffing techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass potential system compromise and data breaches. When attackers successfully intercept HTTP session data containing user credentials, they gain unauthorized access to administrative and user accounts within the CommonSpot environment. This unauthorized access can lead to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, and the ability to modify or delete content within the CMS. The vulnerability affects organizations using vulnerable versions of CommonSpot across various deployment scenarios including web applications, enterprise portals, and content management systems that rely on the affected software.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of insufficient transport layer protection, aligning with CWE-319 - Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information and addressing the ATT&CK technique T1046 - Network Service Scanning and T1566 - Phishing. The remediation strategy requires immediate implementation of secure communication protocols including mandatory HTTPS enforcement, proper SSL/TLS configuration, and the enforcement of secure session management practices. Organizations must also implement network segmentation, intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in their infrastructure.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure credential handling in web applications and highlights the necessity of following security best practices such as the OWASP Top Ten recommendations for secure authentication and session management. System administrators should ensure that all authentication data is transmitted through encrypted channels and that proper security controls are in place to prevent credential interception attacks. The affected versions of CommonSpot should be upgraded immediately to the patched releases, and organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across their technology stack.