CVE-2002-2335 in Killer Protection
Summary
by MITRE
Killer Protection 1.0 stores the vars.inc include file under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain user names and passwords and log in using protection.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-2335 represents a critical security flaw in Killer Protection 1.0 software that exposes sensitive authentication data through improper file access controls. This vulnerability resides in the web application's configuration where the vars.inc include file is placed within the web root directory structure, creating an exploitable condition that undermines the application's authentication mechanisms. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental misconfiguration in access control policies that directly compromises user credential security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly secure sensitive configuration files that contain user authentication information. The vars.inc file, which typically stores database connection parameters and user credentials, is accessible through the web server's document root, making it directly retrievable by unauthorized users. This misconfiguration allows attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures by directly accessing the protection.php script that utilizes the exposed variables file. The vulnerability specifically relates to insufficient access control measures that should have prevented web-accessible files from containing sensitive authentication data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk for systems running Killer Protection 1.0 as it enables remote attackers to obtain user names and passwords without requiring any authentication credentials themselves. The exposure of authentication data through web-accessible files directly violates security best practices and creates opportunities for unauthorized system access. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, gain persistent access to protected systems, and potentially move laterally within network environments. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft as it undermines the entire security architecture of the application.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials) categories, demonstrating how improper file placement combined with hardcoded authentication data creates exploitable conditions. This weakness also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 (Phishing) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can leverage stolen credentials to establish persistent access. The configuration error represents a classic example of poor security by design where sensitive data is exposed through inadequate access controls. Organizations should implement proper file access restrictions and ensure that authentication-related configuration files are stored outside of web-accessible directories.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate file relocation to secure server directories that are not accessible through the web root, implementation of proper access control lists for sensitive files, and regular security audits of web application configurations. Security patches should address the root cause by preventing web-accessible files from containing authentication data and implementing proper directory permissions. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify similar misconfigurations in other applications and establish secure coding practices that prevent hard-coded credentials from being exposed in web-accessible locations. The remediation process must include regular monitoring of file access patterns and implementation of intrusion detection systems to identify unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration files.