CVE-2016-9482 in PHP FormMail Generator
Summary
by MITRE
Code generated by PHP FormMail Generator may allow a remote unauthenticated user to bypass authentication in the to access the administrator panel by navigating directly to /admin.php?mod=admin&func=panel
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9482 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within PHP FormMail Generator software that exposes administrative functionality to unauthenticated remote attackers. This issue stems from inadequate access control implementation within the application's web interface, specifically affecting the administrative panel access mechanism. The vulnerability allows malicious actors to directly navigate to the administrative interface without proper authentication credentials, effectively undermining the application's security model and providing unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through direct URL manipulation where attackers can bypass normal authentication flows by accessing the specific endpoint /admin.php?mod=admin&func=panel. This flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input validation and access control checks within the application's codebase. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-285 which specifically addresses improper authorization issues in software applications, where the system fails to properly verify that the requesting entity has sufficient privileges to access protected resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates severe security implications for organizations utilizing PHP FormMail Generator. An attacker gaining access to the administrative panel can perform a wide range of malicious activities including but not limited to modifying application configuration, accessing or manipulating user data, adding or removing administrative users, and potentially escalating privileges within the compromised system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no valid credentials or authentication tokens, making it extremely easy to exploit and allowing for immediate administrative access upon successful exploitation.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts usage and privilege escalation through legitimate administrative interfaces. This vulnerability also relates to T1566 which covers credential harvesting and social engineering techniques, as attackers can leverage the bypass to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions without needing to obtain valid credentials through other means. The exposure of administrative functionality through direct URL access represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture and demonstrates poor implementation of access control mechanisms.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including but not limited to restricting direct access to administrative endpoints through web server configuration, implementing proper authentication checks at all entry points, and applying the latest security patches provided by the software vendor. Network-level restrictions should be implemented to prevent direct access to administrative URLs from external networks, while internal access controls should enforce proper authentication before granting access to administrative functions. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar access control vulnerabilities within the application's codebase and ensure comprehensive protection against unauthorized administrative access attempts.