CVE-2001-1527 in Easynews
Summary
by MITRE
easyNews 1.5 and earlier stores administration passwords in cleartext in settings.php, which allows local users to obtain the passwords and gain access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/05/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2001-1527 represents a critical security flaw in easyNews version 1.5 and earlier, where administrative credentials are stored in an unencrypted format within the settings.php configuration file. This fundamental design oversight creates a significant attack surface that directly violates established security principles for credential management and access control. The flaw exists at the application level where sensitive information is not properly protected through encryption or hashing mechanisms, making it trivial for local attackers to access administrative privileges.
This vulnerability falls under the category of improper credential storage as classified by CWE-256, which specifically addresses the issue of storing credentials in an easily accessible format. The technical implementation error lies in the application's failure to employ proper cryptographic measures when persisting administrative passwords, creating a persistent security weakness that remains exploitable as long as the vulnerable software version is deployed. The cleartext storage approach directly contradicts industry best practices outlined in standards such as NIST SP 800-63B for password management and the OWASP Top Ten security guidelines.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as local users who can access the filesystem where settings.php resides can immediately extract administrative credentials without requiring any sophisticated exploitation techniques. This provides attackers with full administrative control over the easyNews application, enabling them to modify content, alter user permissions, access sensitive data, and potentially compromise the entire system. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal skill and resources, making it attractive to both casual attackers and malicious insiders who already have local access to the system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The most critical immediate action involves upgrading to a patched version of easyNews that implements proper password encryption or hashing mechanisms for credential storage. Organizations should also implement file system access controls to restrict local access to sensitive configuration files, employ regular security audits to identify similar cleartext storage issues, and establish proper application hardening procedures. Additionally, implementing the principle of least privilege and regular monitoring of system access logs can help detect unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through unsecured credentials, highlighting the necessity of proper input validation and secure configuration management in software development lifecycle processes.