Description

When setting a new password for a user, the product does not require knowledge of the original password, or using another form of authentication.

This could be used by an attacker to change passwords for another user, thus gaining the privileges associated with that user.

Modes of Introduction:

– Architecture and Design

Related Weaknesses

CWE-287

Consequences

Access Control: Bypass Protection Mechanism, Gain Privileges or Assume Identity

Potential Mitigations

Phase: Architecture and Design

Description: 

When prompting for a password change, force the user to provide the original password in addition to the new password.

Phase: Architecture and Design

Description: 

Do not use “forgotten password” functionality. But if you must, ensure that you are only providing information to the actual user, e.g. by using an email address or challenge question that the legitimate user already provided in the past; do not allow the current user to change this identity information until the correct password has been provided.

CVE References

• CVE-2007-0681
  • Web app allows remote attackers to change the passwords of arbitrary users without providing the original password, and possibly perform other unauthorized actions.

• CVE-2000-0944
  • Web application password change utility doesn’t check the original password.