CVE-2001-1481 in Xitami
Summary
by MITRE
Xitami 2.4 through 2.5 b4 stores the Administrator password in plaintext in the default.aut file, whose default permissions are world-readable, which allows remote attackers to gain privileges.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1481 represents a critical security flaw in the Xitami web server software version 2.4 through 2.5 b4. This issue stems from improper configuration and security design practices within the web server's authentication mechanism, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to administrative privileges. The vulnerability specifically affects the default configuration of Xitami servers where administrative credentials are stored in an unsecured manner within the default.aut file.
The technical flaw manifests in the plaintext storage of administrator passwords within the default.aut configuration file, which is a direct violation of security best practices for credential storage. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-312 category, specifically CWE-312: Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information, as it involves storing sensitive authentication data in an easily readable format without any form of encryption or obfuscation. The default.aut file contains the administrative password in plain text format, making it immediately accessible to anyone who can read the file, regardless of their authentication status with the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly enables privilege escalation attacks. Remote attackers who can access the web server's file system or gain access through other means can simply read the default.aut file to obtain the administrator password. This creates an immediate path to full system control, allowing attackers to modify server configurations, access sensitive data, install malicious software, or compromise the entire web server infrastructure. The world-readable permissions assigned to the default.aut file represent a fundamental failure in access control implementation, as the file should only be accessible to authorized system administrators.
This vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1566.001: Phishing for Information and T1078.004: Valid Accounts, as attackers can leverage the exposed credentials to establish persistent access to the system. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no complex exploitation techniques, merely the ability to read the default.aut file. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security engineering practices where the default installation configuration fails to implement basic security measures such as proper file permissions, encryption of sensitive data, or secure credential management.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate implementation of proper file permissions where the default.aut file should only be readable by the system administrator account, typically requiring root or administrator privileges. System administrators must ensure that sensitive configuration files containing authentication credentials are not world-readable and should be protected with appropriate access controls. Additionally, the Xitami web server should be updated to versions that properly encrypt or hash passwords, or at minimum, administrators should manually configure secure permissions for all configuration files containing sensitive information. This vulnerability serves as a prime example of why default configurations should never be considered secure and why organizations must implement proper security hardening procedures for all software installations.