CVE-2000-1015 in Slashcode
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration of Slashcode before version 2.0 Alpha has a default administrative password, which allows remote attackers to gain Slashcode priviliges and possibly execute arbitrary commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-1015 represents a critical security flaw in the Slashcode content management system prior to version 2.0 Alpha. This issue stems from poor security configuration practices where the software shipped with a hard-coded administrative password, creating a fundamental backdoor that could be exploited by any remote attacker. The default configuration approach, while common in early software development practices, proved to be a significant security risk as it eliminated the need for legitimate authentication mechanisms. This vulnerability directly violates security best practices and represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, where administrative access was granted without proper user authentication or authorization processes. The flaw allows unauthorized users to gain full administrative privileges on the system, which provides complete control over the web application and potentially the underlying server infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the software's default configuration file or initialization routine where the administrative password is hardcoded as a static value rather than being generated dynamically or requiring user input during installation. This default password remains unchanged across all installations, making it easily discoverable through various means including public databases, security research, or simple network reconnaissance. The vulnerability affects the authentication mechanism at its core, bypassing all normal security controls and allowing attackers to execute arbitrary commands with administrative privileges. This type of flaw is categorized under CWE-798 as the use of hard-coded credentials, which is a well-documented weakness in software security. The operational impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access as the administrative privileges granted through this vulnerability can be leveraged to modify content, access sensitive data, install malicious software, or even compromise the entire hosting environment.
The security implications of CVE-2000-1015 align with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers Valid Accounts and T1059 which covers Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers can leverage the default administrative account to execute commands and maintain persistent access. This vulnerability enables attackers to perform reconnaissance, establish backdoors, and conduct further exploitation within the network. The flaw can be exploited through various attack vectors including direct web access to the administrative interface, automated scanning tools, or social engineering tactics to discover the default credentials. Organizations using affected versions of Slashcode were essentially providing free administrative access to their systems, making them vulnerable to data breaches, service disruption, and potential compromise of other systems within the same network infrastructure. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security hygiene in software development practices, where security considerations were not properly integrated into the initial design and configuration phases.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate patching to version 2.0 Alpha or later, which would have addressed the hardcoded credential issue through proper configuration management. System administrators should implement mandatory credential changes during installation, enforce strong password policies, and disable default accounts when possible. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of administrative interfaces, while regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other software components. The remediation process should also include disabling unnecessary services and features, implementing proper logging and monitoring of administrative activities, and establishing incident response procedures for potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training to prevent similar issues in future software deployments and ensure that default configurations are reviewed and hardened before deployment in production environments.