CVE-2002-1947 in Webmin
Summary
by MITRE
Webmin 0.21 through 1.0 uses the same built-in SSL key for all installations, which allows remote attackers to eavesdrop or highjack the SSL session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1947 represents a critical security flaw in Webmin versions 0.21 through 1.0 that fundamentally compromises the integrity of secure communications. This issue stems from a hardcoded SSL private key that is embedded within the software distribution, creating a universal weakness across all affected installations. The flaw directly violates fundamental security principles by eliminating the cryptographic uniqueness required for secure session establishment, making it possible for attackers to exploit this shared credential across multiple systems simultaneously.
This vulnerability falls under the category of weak cryptographic key generation and storage as classified by CWE-326, specifically addressing the improper handling of cryptographic keys within software applications. The technical implementation flaw occurs at the application level where the developers failed to implement proper key management practices, instead opting for a static, predictable key that remains consistent across all deployments. This design decision creates a single point of failure that undermines the entire SSL/TLS security framework, as the private key used for encryption is identical across all installations, making it trivial for attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks or session hijacking operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables remote attackers to eavesdrop on encrypted communications between Webmin clients and servers, potentially gaining access to sensitive administrative credentials, configuration data, and system information. Attackers can exploit this weakness to intercept and decrypt SSL traffic, effectively bypassing the encryption protection that should secure administrative sessions. The vulnerability also facilitates session hijacking, where malicious actors can take control of active administrative sessions, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to critical infrastructure components. This risk is particularly elevated in environments where Webmin serves as a primary administrative interface for system management tasks.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1046 for network service scanning and T1566 for credential access through network sniffing. Organizations running affected Webmin versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, as the shared SSL key essentially provides a universal key to unlock secure communications across all vulnerable installations. The remediation strategy requires immediate patching of the Webmin software to implement unique SSL keys for each installation, along with comprehensive security audits to identify and mitigate potential exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing additional network security controls such as intrusion detection systems and network segmentation to reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in their infrastructure.