CVE-2002-0259 in Miniportal
Summary
by MITRE
InstantServers MiniPortal 1.1.5 and earlier stores sensitive login and account data in plaintext in (1) .pwd files in the miniportal/apache directory, or (2) mplog.txt, which could allow local users to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0259 affects InstantServers MiniPortal versions 1.1.5 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw in how sensitive authentication data is stored within the application's filesystem. This issue stems from the application's insecure handling of user credentials and account information, which are persistently stored in plaintext format rather than being properly encrypted or hashed. The vulnerability specifically targets two distinct storage locations: .pwd files located within the miniportal/apache directory structure and mplog.txt log files that contain sensitive account details. These plaintext storage mechanisms create an exploitable condition that allows local attackers with access to the system to directly read and extract user authentication information without requiring additional exploitation techniques.
The technical flaw represents a fundamental failure in secure data handling practices, specifically violating established security principles for credential storage and access control. The plaintext storage of login credentials and account data directly contradicts industry standards such as those outlined in the CWE-312 category, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data storage mechanisms. This vulnerability operates at the filesystem level and demonstrates poor application design in terms of privilege separation and data protection. The flaw enables local users to gain elevated privileges by simply accessing these unencrypted files, effectively bypassing the application's authentication mechanisms entirely.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it transforms local access into privilege escalation capabilities without requiring complex exploitation techniques or network-based attacks. An attacker with local system access can immediately obtain valid user credentials, potentially enabling them to assume the identity of legitimate users and access restricted resources within the application. This creates a pathway for unauthorized access to sensitive data, system administration functions, and potentially broader network access depending on the privileges associated with the compromised accounts. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and integrity of the system by allowing unauthorized data access and manipulation through simple file reading operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through application updates to versions that properly encrypt or hash sensitive data before storage. System administrators should implement proper access controls to restrict local file system access to these sensitive files and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts. The solution involves implementing proper cryptographic practices for credential storage, including the use of salted hashes or encrypted storage mechanisms, as recommended by security frameworks such as those outlined in the NIST Special Publication 800-63 for digital identity management. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that sensitive data is not stored in plaintext format and that appropriate file permissions are enforced to prevent unauthorized access to credential files. Organizations should also consider implementing automated scanning tools to detect similar insecure data storage patterns in legacy applications and ensure that all authentication-related data is properly protected through encryption or other security controls.