CVE-2017-8827 in GeniXCMS
Summary
by MITRE
forgotpassword.php in GeniXCMS 1.0.2 lacks a rate limit, which might allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (login inability) or possibly conduct Arbitrary User Password Reset attacks via a series of requests.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8827 affects GeniXCMS version 1.0.2 and specifically targets the forgotpassword.php script which handles password reset functionality. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of user authentication mechanisms within the content management system. The absence of rate limiting in this component creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the password recovery process, potentially leading to significant operational disruptions and unauthorized access attempts.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the lack of request rate limiting mechanisms within the forgotpassword.php script. This script processes password reset requests without implementing any form of throttling or monitoring for excessive requests from the same user account or IP address. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-305 authentication bypass weakness where insufficient authentication mechanisms allow unauthorized users to exploit authentication flows. The flaw enables attackers to submit numerous password reset requests in rapid succession, which can overwhelm the system resources and potentially exhaust available session or token resources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates multiple attack vectors that can severely impact system availability and user security. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to either exhaust system resources through excessive requests, leading to denial of service conditions where legitimate users cannot access their accounts, or they can potentially manipulate the password reset process to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. The attack surface expands significantly as this vulnerability can be exploited without requiring authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user accounts are valuable targets for compromise.
The impact extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to include potential account takeover capabilities that align with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 for credential harvesting through social engineering or automated attacks. Attackers can systematically submit password reset requests for targeted user accounts, potentially exhausting the reset token pool or triggering account lockout mechanisms that could prevent legitimate users from accessing their accounts. This creates a scenario where the system becomes unusable for legitimate users while simultaneously providing attackers with opportunities to exploit the authentication flow.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust rate limiting controls within the forgotpassword.php script and throughout the authentication system. Organizations should deploy request throttling mechanisms that limit the number of password reset requests per user account or IP address within a specified time window. The implementation should follow industry best practices for authentication security and align with NIST SP 800-63B guidelines for authentication assurance levels. Additionally, implementing account lockout mechanisms after excessive failed requests, adding CAPTCHA verification for automated requests, and monitoring for suspicious activity patterns can significantly reduce the attack surface. Regular security assessments and input validation should be implemented to ensure the effectiveness of these controls and prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other authentication components of the system.