Wordpress authentication cookie password weak security
| wordpress-password-weak-security (38578) |  Low Risk |
Description:
Wordpress authentication cookies could provide weaker than expected security. Authentication cookies are based on the MD5 hash of the password MD5 hash, which is stored in the user database. A remote attacker with read access to the user database could exploit this vulnerability to bypass authentication and gain unauthorized administrative access to the application by generating an authentication cookie using the password MD5 hash recovered from the database.
*CVSS:
| Base Score: | 3.5 |
| Access Vector: | Network |
| Access Complexity: | Medium |
| Authentication: | Single |
| Confidentiality Impact: | None |
| Integrity Impact: | Partial |
| Availability Impact: | None |
| Temporal Score: | 3 |
| Exploitability: | Unproven |
| Remediation Level: | Unavailable |
| Report Confidence: | Confirmed |
Consequences:
Bypass Security
Remedy:
No remedy available as of January 2008.
References:
- Full-Disclosure Mailing List, Mon Nov 19 2007 - 12:46:37 CST: Wordpress Cookie Authentication Vulnerability.
- Full-Disclosure Mailing List, Tue Nov 20 2007 - 12:51:26 CST: Wordpress 0day: Hacking into computers now easier than previously believed - Heise Security.
- Wordpress trac Ticket #5367: Wordpress cookie authentication vulnerability.
- CVE-2007-6013: Wordpress 1.5 through 2.3.1 uses cookie values based on the MD5 hash of a password MD5 hash, which allows attackers to bypass authentication by obtaining the MD5 hash from the user database, then generating the authentication cookie from that hash.
- SA27714: WordPress Cookies Security Bypass Weakness
- SECTRACK ID: 1018980: WordPress Cookie Authentication Flaw Lets Remote Users Access Accounts in Certain Cases
- VUPEN/ADV-2007-3941: WordPress Cookies Processing Authentication Bypass Weakness
Platforms Affected:
- WordPress WordPress 1.5 - 2.3.1
Reported:
Nov 19, 2007
The information within this database may change without notice. Use of this information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are NO warranties, implied or otherwise, with regard to this information or its use. Any use of this information is at the user's risk. In no event shall the author/distributor (IBM Internet Security Systems X-Force) be held liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of or in connection with the use or spread of this information.
For corrections or additions please email xforce@iss.net
* According to the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST), the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) is an "industry open standard designed to convey vulnerability severity and help to determine urgency and priority of response." IBM PROVIDES THE CVSS SCORES "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ANY ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY.
The information within this database may change without notice. Use of this information constitutes acceptance for use in an AS IS condition. There are NO warranties, implied or otherwise, with regard to this information or its use. Any use of this information is at the user's risk. In no event shall IBM be held liable for any damages whatsoever arising out of or in connection with the use or spread of this information.