CVE-2016-4808 in Web2py
Summary
by MITRE
Web2py versions 2.14.5 and below was affected by CSRF (Cross Site Request Forgery) vulnerability, which allows an attacker to trick a logged in user to perform some unwanted actions i.e An attacker can trick an victim to disable the installed application just by sending a URL to victim.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2024
The CVE-2016-4808 vulnerability represents a critical cross site request forgery flaw in Web2py versions 2.14.5 and earlier, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in the web application framework's authentication and authorization mechanisms. This vulnerability operates by exploiting the trust relationship between web applications and user browsers, where legitimate users are unknowingly coerced into executing malicious actions without their knowledge or consent. The flaw specifically affects the application's ability to verify the authenticity of requests originating from the user's browser, creating an attack surface that can be leveraged by adversaries to manipulate application state and perform unauthorized operations on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from Web2py's insufficient validation of request origins and lack of proper anti-forgery token implementation in its web forms and API endpoints. When users navigate to malicious web pages or click on compromised links, the framework fails to adequately distinguish between legitimate user-initiated requests and those generated by attackers. This weakness allows threat actors to craft specially crafted requests that appear to originate from authenticated users, enabling them to execute administrative functions such as disabling applications, modifying user permissions, or performing other destructive operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication credentials from the attacker, relying solely on the victim's existing authenticated session to carry out malicious activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass complete application compromise and potential system-wide damage. An attacker exploiting CVE-2016-4808 could disable critical web applications, disrupt business operations, and potentially gain access to sensitive data or system resources. The attack vector is particularly insidious as it can be delivered through simple email links, compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns that require minimal technical expertise from the attacker. Organizations using vulnerable Web2py versions face significant risk of unauthorized application modification, service disruption, and potential data exposure, with the attack surface expanding to include all authenticated user sessions within the affected framework. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which defines Cross-Site Request Forgery as a security weakness that allows attackers to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users without their knowledge.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4808 should prioritize immediate version upgrades to Web2py 2.15.0 or later, which contain proper anti-CSRF token implementation and request validation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security layers including Content Security Policy headers, proper request origin validation, and regular security audits of web application frameworks. The implementation of anti-forgery tokens in all user-facing forms and API endpoints becomes critical to preventing unauthorized actions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1566 (Phishing) and T1071.001 (Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols) where attackers leverage user trust and browser behavior to execute malicious commands. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls, monitoring for suspicious request patterns, and conducting regular penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web frameworks. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that all application endpoints properly validate request authenticity and that user sessions maintain proper security boundaries against cross-site manipulation attempts.