CVE-2014-5385 in Shopizer
Summary
by MITRE
com/salesmanager/central/profile/ProfileAction.java in Shopizer 1.1.5 and earlier does not restrict the number of authentication attempts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to guess passwords via a brute force attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5385 resides within the ProfileAction.java component of Shopizer e-commerce platform version 1.1.5 and earlier. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that directly impacts the authentication mechanism of the system. The vulnerability stems from the absence of any rate limiting or account lockout mechanisms that would typically prevent automated password guessing attempts. Attackers can exploit this weakness by repeatedly submitting authentication requests with different password combinations, effectively conducting brute force attacks against user accounts without encountering any protective measures. The lack of such safeguards creates an environment where malicious actors can systematically work through password dictionaries or generate random password combinations until they successfully gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient authentication mechanisms and weak account lockout policies. The absence of authentication attempt monitoring and restriction mechanisms creates a direct pathway for automated attack tools to operate without interference. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it affects the core authentication functionality of the application, making it a prime target for exploitation. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-307, which specifically addresses inadequate password validation and insufficient authentication attempt limiting. The vulnerability represents a failure in implementing proper access control measures and demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's security architecture. The technical implementation lacks any form of rate limiting or account lockout functionality that would normally be expected in secure authentication systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5385 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially compromise entire user bases and sensitive data within the Shopizer platform. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to systematically compromise multiple user accounts, potentially gaining access to personal information, financial data, and administrative privileges. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform automated password guessing attacks that can be executed at scale, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users maintain accounts. Organizations using affected versions of Shopizer face significant risks including data breaches, identity theft, and potential regulatory compliance violations. The ease of exploitation means that even relatively unsophisticated attackers can successfully compromise user accounts, creating a substantial risk profile for businesses relying on this platform. This vulnerability directly impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system's user authentication services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5385 require immediate implementation of robust authentication controls and access restriction mechanisms. Organizations should implement rate limiting on authentication attempts, with configurable thresholds that prevent excessive login requests from single IP addresses or user accounts. Account lockout mechanisms should be deployed with appropriate time delays and automatic unlock procedures to prevent both brute force attacks and denial of service conditions. The implementation should follow industry best practices and align with security frameworks such as those recommended by NIST and ISO 27001 standards. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing multi-factor authentication as an additional layer of security. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to ensure that authentication mechanisms remain effective against evolving attack vectors. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper access control measures and demonstrates the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security protocols within web applications. Organizations should also establish monitoring procedures to detect and respond to suspicious authentication patterns that could indicate brute force attack attempts.