CVE-2000-0937 in Samba
Summary
by MITRE
Samba Web Administration Tool (SWAT) in Samba 2.0.7 does not log login attempts in which the username is correct but the password is wrong, which allows remote attackers to conduct brute force password guessing attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2000-0937 resides within the Samba Web Administration Tool (SWAT) component of Samba version 2.0.7, representing a critical security flaw that undermines authentication integrity. This issue specifically affects the logging mechanism of the SWAT interface, which is designed to provide web-based administration capabilities for Samba network services. The flaw manifests when users attempt to authenticate to the SWAT interface with valid usernames but incorrect passwords, creating a significant gap in the system's ability to detect and respond to malicious authentication attempts.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the improper implementation of authentication logging within the SWAT module. When a user enters a correct username but incorrect password, the system fails to record this failed authentication attempt in its log files, effectively creating a blind spot for security monitoring and intrusion detection systems. This behavior directly violates the principle of comprehensive logging as recommended by security frameworks and standards such as those outlined in the CWE-778 category, which addresses insufficient logging of authentication events. The absence of failed login records means that automated security tools cannot properly correlate authentication attempts, making it significantly easier for attackers to conduct systematic brute force attacks without detection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple authentication bypass attempts, creating a substantial risk for organizations relying on Samba for network file sharing and administration. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by systematically attempting various password combinations against known usernames, knowing that their unsuccessful attempts will not be logged and therefore will not trigger security alerts or account lockout mechanisms. This allows for prolonged unauthorized access attempts that can go undetected for extended periods, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where SWAT is enabled and accessible over network connections, as it provides attackers with a direct pathway to conduct password guessing attacks without alerting system administrators to their presence.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK framework techniques, particularly those related to credential access and privilege escalation. Attackers can leverage this weakness to perform password spraying and brute force attacks with significantly reduced risk of detection, as the system fails to maintain proper audit trails for failed authentication attempts. Organizations using Samba 2.0.7 with SWAT enabled face an elevated risk of unauthorized access, especially when the SWAT interface is exposed to untrusted networks or when weak password policies are in place. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the security architecture of the authentication logging system, where the absence of failed attempt records creates a false sense of security and undermines the effectiveness of security monitoring solutions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to address the flawed logging implementation. Organizations should disable the SWAT interface when not actively needed, particularly in production environments where it may be exposed to external networks. The most effective solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Samba that properly implements authentication logging for all authentication attempts, including failed password entries. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring measures such as intrusion detection systems that can detect unusual authentication patterns even when traditional logging fails. Network segmentation and access control measures should be strengthened to limit access to SWAT interfaces to trusted administrative networks only. Security configurations should include proper log aggregation and monitoring of authentication events to ensure that failed login attempts are properly recorded and analyzed. Additionally, organizations should enforce strong password policies and implement account lockout mechanisms to reduce the effectiveness of brute force attacks, even when the logging system fails to properly record failed attempts.