CVE-2001-1336 in CesarFTP
Summary
by MITRE
CesarFTP 0.98b and earlier stores usernames and passwords in plaintext in the settings.ini file, which allows attackers to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-1336 represents a critical security flaw in CesarFTP version 0.98b and earlier implementations where authentication credentials are stored in plaintext within the settings.ini configuration file. This represents a fundamental failure in secure credential management practices that directly violates established security principles for protecting sensitive authentication information. The flaw exists at the application level where the software fails to implement proper encryption or obfuscation mechanisms for storing user credentials, creating an inherent weakness that persists across system sessions and restarts.
This vulnerability manifests as a plaintext storage issue that falls under the CWE-312 category of "Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information" within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The flaw allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources by simply reading the configuration file, which contains unencrypted usernames and passwords. The operational impact is severe as it eliminates the need for attackers to perform complex exploitation techniques or social engineering attacks to obtain authentication credentials. Any individual with access to the system files can immediately retrieve these credentials and use them to impersonate legitimate users or gain administrative privileges.
The security implications extend beyond simple credential theft to encompass potential privilege escalation and persistent access within the compromised environment. Attackers can leverage these stored credentials to perform unauthorized operations including data exfiltration, system modification, or establishing backdoor access points. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1555.003 which covers "Credentials from Password Stores" and demonstrates how attackers can exploit weak credential storage mechanisms to achieve their objectives. The flaw also represents a violation of the principle of least privilege as the system fails to properly protect authentication information that should remain confidential and protected from unauthorized access.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through software updates to versions that properly encrypt or obfuscate stored credentials. Organizations should implement configuration management practices to ensure that sensitive files are properly secured with appropriate file permissions and access controls. Additionally, system administrators should conduct regular security audits to identify and remediate similar plaintext storage vulnerabilities across all applications and services. The fix should implement proper cryptographic techniques for credential storage while maintaining system functionality and user experience. This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of implementing robust credential management mechanisms as part of the overall security architecture rather than treating authentication storage as a secondary concern.