CVE-2002-0688 in Zope
Summary
by MITRE
ZCatalog plug-in index support capability for Zope 2.4.0 through 2.5.1 allows anonymous users and untrusted code to bypass access restrictions and call arbitrary methods of catalog indexes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0688 represents a critical access control flaw within the Zope content management framework, specifically affecting versions 2.4.0 through 2.5.1. This issue resides in the ZCatalog plug-in index support functionality, which serves as a core indexing mechanism for organizing and retrieving content within Zope applications. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper access controls within the catalog indexing system, creating a pathway for unauthorized entities to exploit the framework's indexing capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper method access controls within the ZCatalog's index handling mechanism. Anonymous users and untrusted code can manipulate the indexing process to call arbitrary methods on catalog indexes, effectively bypassing the normal access restriction mechanisms that should prevent such operations. This occurs because the system fails to properly validate method names or restrict access to sensitive indexing operations that could be used to execute malicious code or extract protected information. The flaw operates at the application level where the indexing system does not properly sanitize method calls or enforce proper authorization checks before executing potentially dangerous operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data and system functionality through the seemingly benign indexing process. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code within the context of the Zope application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The ability to bypass access restrictions means that even anonymous users could perform operations that should only be available to authenticated administrators, creating a significant risk for any Zope-based applications that rely on proper access controls for security. This vulnerability essentially transforms the indexing system from a legitimate content organization tool into a potential attack vector for privilege escalation and data exfiltration.
Organizations using affected Zope versions should immediately apply the vendor-provided security patches or upgrade to versions that address this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should include implementing proper input validation for all indexing operations and enforcing strict access controls on catalog index methods. Security administrators should also consider implementing network-level restrictions to limit access to indexing functionality and monitor for suspicious indexing activities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation'. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly routine application functionality can be exploited to bypass fundamental security controls, highlighting the importance of proper access control implementation in all application components regardless of their apparent benign nature.