CVE-2002-1909 in Ingenium Learning Management System
Summary
by MITRE
Click2Learn Ingenium Learning Management System 5.1 and 6.1 stores the hashed administrative password in a config.txt file under the htdocs directory, which allows remote attackers to obtain the administrative password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1909 affects the Click2Learn Ingenium Learning Management System versions 5.1 and 6.1, representing a critical security flaw in the system's authentication mechanism. This issue stems from improper secure configuration practices where administrative credentials are stored in plaintext format within a configuration file, making them accessible to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability specifically targets the web server directory structure where the config.txt file resides in the htdocs directory, which is the standard web root folder for web applications. This misconfiguration creates an exploitable path that allows remote attackers to gain access to administrative credentials without requiring any authentication.
The technical flaw manifests through the insecure storage of hashed administrative passwords within the config.txt file, which violates fundamental security principles for credential management. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-312 (Sensitive Data in Database) and CWE-522 (Insufficiently Protected Credentials) as it exposes authentication data in a manner that provides attackers with direct access to administrative privileges. The presence of the hashed password in a configuration file accessible through the web server creates a path for attackers to directly retrieve administrative credentials, which would otherwise require additional exploitation techniques to obtain. This flaw represents a critical failure in the principle of least privilege and proper access control implementation within the learning management system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides remote attackers with immediate administrative access to the learning management system, enabling them to manipulate course content, modify user accounts, and potentially access sensitive educational data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform unauthorized modifications to the learning environment, including adding malicious content, altering grades, or disabling system functionality. The exposure of administrative credentials also enables attackers to establish persistent access to the system, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized data manipulation, or complete system compromise. This vulnerability undermines the security posture of educational institutions relying on the system, as it allows attackers to gain control over learning management infrastructure without requiring any additional authentication bypass techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through secure configuration practices and proper credential management. Organizations should implement proper file permissions on configuration files to restrict access to authorized personnel only, ensuring that sensitive configuration files are not accessible through the web server. The system should be updated to properly implement secure credential storage mechanisms, including the use of encrypted storage for sensitive data and proper separation of configuration files from web-accessible directories. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit exposure of vulnerable systems, while regular security audits should verify that configuration files are properly secured and that no sensitive data is stored in web-accessible locations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices for credential management and demonstrates the critical need for proper file system permissions and secure configuration management as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks and standards.