CVE-2000-1030 in Corporatetime For The Web
Summary
by MITRE
CS&T CorporateTime for the Web returns different error messages for invalid usernames and invalid passwords, which allows remote attackers to determine valid usernames on the server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2000-1030 resides within CS&T CorporateTime for the Web, a web-based time tracking and management system that was widely deployed in corporate environments during the late 1990s and early 2000s. This security flaw represents a classic example of information disclosure through error message manipulation, where the application's authentication mechanism fails to provide consistent feedback to unauthorized users attempting to access the system. The vulnerability specifically affects the authentication process by returning distinct error messages for different types of authentication failures, creating a reconnaissance opportunity for malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's handling of authentication requests where it differentiates between invalid username and invalid password scenarios through distinct error responses. When an attacker submits an authentication request with a non-existent username, the system returns one type of error message that indicates the username does not exist in the system. Conversely, when a valid username is provided but an incorrect password is submitted, the application returns a different error message indicating that the password is invalid. This differential response behavior creates a clear distinction that allows attackers to systematically test user accounts by observing the varying error messages returned by the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant within the context of authentication security and access control. Attackers can leverage this information disclosure to perform user enumeration attacks, systematically identifying valid usernames within the target system through automated probing techniques. This capability directly violates fundamental security principles and provides attackers with a crucial foothold for subsequent attacks. The vulnerability essentially transforms the authentication system from a protective barrier into a reconnaissance tool, enabling attackers to build comprehensive lists of valid user accounts that can then be targeted through brute force attacks, credential stuffing, or social engineering campaigns. The flaw also aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and represents a specific instance of how improper error handling can lead to unauthorized information disclosure.
This vulnerability demonstrates a critical weakness in the application's security design and authentication flow implementation, where the system's response to failed authentication attempts reveals sensitive information about the system's internal state. The attack pattern follows established methodologies documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the credential access category, specifically targeting the enumeration of valid accounts as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks. Organizations using CS&T CorporateTime for the Web were particularly vulnerable because the application's default configuration did not implement consistent error messaging or account lockout mechanisms to prevent systematic user enumeration. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of implementing proper security controls such as rate limiting and account lockout policies, which would significantly complicate automated enumeration attempts.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires implementing consistent error messaging across all authentication failure scenarios, ensuring that all invalid authentication attempts return identical generic error messages regardless of whether the username or password was incorrect. This approach aligns with security best practices and defensive programming principles that mandate uniform responses to security events. Organizations should also implement additional controls such as account lockout mechanisms, rate limiting, and monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns to prevent automated enumeration attacks. The fix should be implemented at the application level by modifying the authentication module to normalize error responses and potentially integrate with more robust authentication frameworks that provide built-in protection against such enumeration attacks. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper error handling and information disclosure prevention in web applications, particularly those handling user authentication and access control functions.