CVE-2002-0911 in Volution Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Caldera Volution Manager 1.1 stores the Directory Administrator password in cleartext in the slapd.conf file, which could allow local users to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0911 affects Caldera Volution Manager version 1.1 and represents a critical security flaw in the handling of authentication credentials within the directory services infrastructure. This issue stems from the improper storage of sensitive administrative credentials in an unencrypted format, creating a significant attack surface for local adversaries who possess access to the system. The slapd.conf file serves as the primary configuration file for the OpenLDAP directory service, which is commonly utilized by organizations for centralized user and resource management. When the Directory Administrator password is stored in cleartext within this configuration file, it fundamentally undermines the security posture of the entire directory service implementation. The vulnerability specifically targets the authentication mechanisms that govern access to directory services, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that rely on LDAP for their identity management infrastructure.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's configuration file handling process where administrative credentials are written to disk without any form of encryption or obfuscation. This cleartext storage approach violates fundamental security principles and creates an immediate privilege escalation opportunity for local attackers who can simply read the configuration file to obtain administrative credentials. The slapd.conf file typically contains various sensitive parameters including bind credentials, encryption settings, and access control information, but the presence of the Directory Administrator password in plain text represents a severe deviation from secure configuration practices. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability directly maps to CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials), both of which are categorized under the OWASP Top Ten as critical security weaknesses. The flaw essentially transforms what should be a secure administrative access mechanism into an easily exploitable vector that requires no sophisticated attack techniques beyond basic file system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond the immediate privilege escalation opportunity it provides to local users. Organizations utilizing Caldera Volution Manager 1.1 face significant risks including unauthorized access to user directories, potential data breaches, and complete compromise of directory services. The Directory Administrator account typically possesses extensive privileges including the ability to create, modify, or delete user accounts, manage access controls, and configure system-wide directory policies. Once an attacker obtains these credentials, they can manipulate the entire directory structure, potentially creating backdoor accounts, modifying access permissions, or exfiltrating sensitive information. This vulnerability also creates cascading security risks as directory services often serve as the foundation for other security systems including single sign-on implementations, network authentication protocols, and integrated enterprise applications. The attack surface is further expanded when considering that local access often requires minimal effort to achieve, as many systems provide local administrative access to legitimate users or may have weak local security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0911 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring. The most direct approach involves modifying the configuration file to remove cleartext passwords and implement proper credential storage mechanisms such as encrypted password files or secure credential management systems. Organizations should implement access controls on the slapd.conf file to restrict read permissions to only necessary administrative accounts and processes. The implementation of proper privilege separation and least-privilege principles becomes critical in preventing unauthorized access to sensitive configuration data. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration files, while regular security audits should verify that credentials are not stored in cleartext formats. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1566 (Phishing for Information) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can leverage the cleartext credentials to establish persistent access. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of defense in depth strategies and proper configuration management practices as outlined in NIST SP 800-53 security controls. Organizations should also consider migrating to more modern directory service implementations that provide better credential management and encryption capabilities, as Caldera Volution Manager 1.1 represents an outdated solution with known security limitations. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the configuration changes do not disrupt existing directory services while maintaining the security improvements necessary to protect against credential exposure attacks.