CVE-2001-1227 in Zope
Summary
by MITRE
Zope before 2.2.4 allows partially trusted users to bypass security controls for certain methods by accessing the methods through the fmt attribute of dtml-var tags.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1227 affects Zope content management systems prior to version 2.2.4, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the application's access control mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically targets the security model implementation within Zope's DTML (Dynamic Template Markup Language) processing system, where the fmt attribute of dtml-var tags creates an unexpected pathway for privilege escalation. The flaw exploits the interaction between DTML variable processing and Zope's security framework, allowing users with limited privileges to execute methods that should normally be restricted to administrators or privileged users.
The technical exploitation occurs through the fmt attribute functionality within dtml-var tags, which enables users to format and display data from objects. When processing these tags, Zope's security controls fail to properly validate whether the requesting user has adequate permissions to access the underlying methods referenced through the fmt attribute. This creates a direct bypass of the normal access control checks that should prevent partially trusted users from executing sensitive operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and privilege checking within the DTML processing engine, where the fmt attribute can be manipulated to reference methods that bypass the standard security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to potentially access sensitive system functions and data that should remain protected. An attacker with partial access to a Zope system can leverage this flaw to execute administrative commands, access restricted resources, or perform operations that could compromise the entire system. The vulnerability affects organizations using Zope content management systems where multiple user roles exist, particularly those with partially trusted users who should not have access to administrative functions. This security bypass can lead to complete system compromise, data theft, or unauthorized modifications to the content management environment.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to Zope version 2.2.4 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as no effective workarounds exist for the underlying security flaw. The fix implemented in version 2.2.4 addresses the improper access control validation within DTML processing, ensuring that all method invocations through fmt attributes are properly validated against user permissions. Security administrators should also implement additional monitoring of DTML usage patterns and conduct thorough access control reviews to identify any potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a specific implementation weakness in the security model that allows bypass of authorization checks. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this as a privilege escalation technique through application-level vulnerabilities, specifically targeting the execution of unauthorized commands through legitimate system interfaces.