CVE-2000-0938 in Samba
Summary
by MITRE
Samba Web Administration Tool (SWAT) in Samba 2.0.7 supplies a different error message when a valid username is provided versus an invalid name, which allows remote attackers to identify valid users on the server.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-0938 represents a classic information disclosure flaw within the Samba Web Administration Tool SWAT version 2.0.7. This issue stems from the inconsistent error messaging behavior that occurs when users attempt authentication against the Samba server through the web interface. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the SWAT interface processes authentication requests and provides different error responses depending on whether the username exists in the system's user database.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a fundamental security weakness in the authentication response mechanism. When a remote attacker submits a username and password combination to the SWAT interface, the system responds differently based on the validity of the username itself rather than the validity of the password. If a valid username is provided but an incorrect password is submitted, the system returns an error message indicating a password failure. However, when an invalid username is provided, the system returns a different error message indicating that the user account does not exist. This differential response allows attackers to perform user enumeration attacks by systematically testing usernames and observing the distinct error messages returned by the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to enable more sophisticated attack vectors. Attackers can leverage this flaw to build comprehensive user dictionaries for the target system, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of brute force and dictionary attacks against the Samba server. The vulnerability directly violates security principle number one from the CWE taxonomy, which addresses improper error handling that can provide attackers with information about system internals. This weakness aligns with the attack pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique T1087.001 - Account Discovery: Local Accounts, where adversaries seek to identify valid accounts on a system through enumeration techniques.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe in environments where Samba servers serve as critical network authentication points. The information disclosure aspect creates a pathway for attackers to map legitimate user accounts within the organization's network infrastructure, enabling them to focus subsequent attacks on specific targets rather than conducting broad, random attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates a lack of proper input validation and error handling practices that should be implemented according to industry security standards and best practices. Organizations running Samba 2.0.7 with SWAT enabled are particularly at risk as this flaw can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or access credentials beyond basic network connectivity to the web administration interface.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of the Samba software to version 2.0.8 or later, which addressed the inconsistent error messaging behavior. Additionally, organizations should disable the SWAT interface when it is not actively needed for administration purposes, as this reduces the attack surface available to potential adversaries. Network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to restrict access to the Samba administration interface to only authorized personnel. The implementation of account lockout policies and rate limiting mechanisms can further reduce the effectiveness of enumeration attacks. This vulnerability highlights the importance of consistent error handling practices in security-sensitive applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can create significant security risks. The issue represents a failure to implement proper security by design principles where error messages should not provide information that could assist attackers in identifying valid system components.