CVE-2021-45786 in Maccms
Summary
by MITRE • 03/16/2022
In maccms v10, an attacker can log in through /index.php/user/login in the "col" and "openid" parameters to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45786 affects maccms v10, a content management system widely used for media and entertainment platforms. This authentication bypass flaw exists within the user login endpoint at /index.php/user/login, where the system fails to properly validate user credentials and session management. The vulnerability specifically manifests through the manipulation of the "col" and "openid" parameters, which are typically used for social login integration and content categorization respectively. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that leverage these parameters to authenticate without proper credentials, effectively bypassing the standard authentication mechanism.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameter sanitization within the authentication flow. The system appears to improperly process the "col" and "openid" parameters during the login process, allowing attackers to inject crafted values that manipulate the authentication logic. This weakness represents a classic case of improper authentication handling, aligning with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication vulnerabilities. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor authentication path where an attacker can establish a privileged session without legitimate user credentials, potentially gaining access to administrative functions and sensitive data within the maccms v10 environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations running affected maccms v10 installations. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain unauthorized administrative access, allowing them to modify content, delete media files, manipulate user accounts, and potentially escalate privileges to full system control. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the platform, as attackers could access private user data, modify content, and potentially use the compromised system as a launchpad for further attacks within the network. This authentication bypass could also facilitate persistent access, making it particularly dangerous for long-term compromise of the system.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching the system to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability, implementing proper input validation for all authentication parameters, and strengthening session management controls. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious authentication attempts. The implementation of multi-factor authentication and regular security audits can help prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1110.003 (Brute Force: Password Guessing) and T1078.004 (Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts) as attackers can leverage the bypass to establish persistent access. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious parameter manipulation attempts, and conduct thorough penetration testing to identify other potential authentication bypass vulnerabilities within their maccms installations.