CVE-2002-2301 in Financials
Summary
by MITRE
Lawson Financials 8.0, when configured to use a third party relational database, stores usernames and passwords in a world-readable file, which allows local users to read the passwords and log onto the database.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-2301 represents a critical security flaw in Lawson Financials 8.0 software when integrated with third-party relational databases. This issue stems from improper configuration practices where sensitive authentication credentials are stored in files accessible to all local users on the system. The vulnerability specifically affects organizations that have implemented Lawson Financials 8.0 alongside external database solutions, creating a scenario where privilege escalation and unauthorized access become possible through simple file enumeration techniques. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental failure in information security design principles, particularly concerning the handling of authentication credentials within enterprise applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's configuration process where database connection parameters including usernames and passwords are written to disk in a manner that does not properly enforce access controls. This misconfiguration results in world-readable file permissions that allow any local user account to access the stored credentials. The underlying flaw can be categorized under CWE-732, which specifically addresses improper permission assignment for critical resources, and represents a classic example of insecure credential storage practices that have been consistently identified as high-risk in security frameworks. The vulnerability operates at the file system level where the application fails to implement proper discretionary access controls on sensitive configuration files containing authentication tokens.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized database access, creating potential for broader system compromise and data exfiltration. Local users who gain access to these credentials can potentially escalate their privileges within the database environment, access sensitive financial data, modify records, or even establish persistent backdoors through database administrative accounts. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential access through unauthorized access to credentials, and T1078, which addresses valid accounts usage. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where database administrators often use privileged accounts with extensive access rights, potentially allowing attackers to gain comprehensive access to financial systems and sensitive corporate data.
Organizations should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The primary remediation involves ensuring that configuration files containing database credentials are stored with restrictive permissions that limit access to only authorized system administrators. This includes setting proper file ownership and access controls using standard Unix/Linux permission models or Windows file system permissions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing centralized credential management solutions such as Windows Credential Manager or Unix-based key management systems to eliminate local storage of sensitive information. Regular security audits should verify that no world-readable configuration files exist containing authentication credentials, and automated monitoring systems should be deployed to detect and alert on unauthorized file access attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of following secure coding practices and proper access control implementation in enterprise applications, particularly those handling sensitive financial data where the consequences of credential exposure can be devastating.