CVE-2004-0928 in Cosminexus Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE
The Microsoft IIS Connector in JRun 4.0 and Macromedia ColdFusion MX 6.0, 6.1, and 6.1 J2EE allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and view source files, such as .asp, .pl, and .php files, via an HTTP request that ends in ";.cfm".
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0928 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw affecting web application servers that integrate with Microsoft Internet Information Services through JRun 4.0 and Macromedia ColdFusion MX 6.0, 6.1, and 6.1 J2EE components. This issue stems from improper handling of file extensions and request processing within the connector module that facilitates communication between the ColdFusion application server and IIS web server. The flaw enables malicious actors to exploit a path traversal or extension manipulation technique that allows unauthorized access to sensitive server resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts an HTTP request that terminates with the sequence ";.cfm" which causes the JRun connector to misinterpret the request and process the underlying file with incorrect permissions or access controls. This misconfiguration allows the system to treat the request as if it were a ColdFusion file (.cfm) while actually serving content from other file types such as .asp, .pl, and .php files that would normally be protected or restricted. The vulnerability essentially creates a pathway where the web server's authentication mechanisms can be bypassed by manipulating how file extensions are processed and interpreted during request handling.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant security risks to organizations relying on these specific server configurations. Attackers can gain unauthorized access to source code files that typically contain sensitive information such as database connection strings, application logic, business rules, and other proprietary code elements. The exposure of .asp files might reveal server-side scripting logic and potentially database credentials, while .pl and .php files could expose application logic that could be leveraged for further exploitation or attacks against the underlying infrastructure. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles of access control and information hiding, as outlined in the CWE-284 access control weakness classification.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics. Specifically, it relates to T1078 legitimate credentials and T1566 credential access patterns where attackers exploit misconfigurations to bypass authentication controls. The vulnerability also connects to T1213 data from information repositories and T1005 data from local systems, as the exposed files often contain database connection details and application configuration information. Organizations with these vulnerable configurations face potential data breaches, intellectual property theft, and subsequent compromise of their entire web infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected JRun and ColdFusion versions, along with implementing proper input validation and request filtering mechanisms. Organizations should configure their web servers to properly handle file extension processing and ensure that the IIS connector is properly secured with appropriate authentication controls. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous requests that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, regular security assessments should validate that file extension handling is properly configured and that no similar misconfigurations exist in other server components or applications within the environment. The remediation process should include thorough testing to ensure that legitimate application functionality is not disrupted while addressing the authentication bypass vulnerability.