CVE-2004-1219 in paFileDB
Summary
by MITRE
paFileDB 3.1, when using sessions authentication and while the administrator logs on, allows remote attackers to read the administrator's password hash and conduct brute force password guessing attacks by listing the contents of the sessions directory and reading the associated file for the administrator session.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1219 represents a critical security flaw in paFileDB version 3.1 that compromises the integrity of the authentication system through improper session management. This issue specifically affects systems where session-based authentication is implemented and administrators log in to the system. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly secure session data storage, creating an information disclosure condition that directly impacts the confidentiality of administrative credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of session files stored in the filesystem. When administrators authenticate to the paFileDB system, their session information is persisted in a designated sessions directory. The flaw arises because the application does not implement proper access controls or file permissions on this directory, allowing remote attackers to enumerate and read session files. These session files contain the administrator's password hash, which is stored in plaintext format within the session data structure. This design flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor secure coding practices in session management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the foundation for sophisticated credential-based attacks. Once an attacker obtains the administrator password hash through directory listing, they can conduct offline brute force or dictionary attacks against the captured hash using various cracking tools and techniques. The vulnerability essentially removes the security barrier that should protect administrative credentials, transforming what should be a protected authentication mechanism into an easily accessible target. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and CWE-310 (Cryptographic Issues) categories, as it exposes sensitive information and fails to properly protect cryptographic data.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques. Remote attackers can simply enumerate the sessions directory using standard directory listing methods and read the session files to extract the administrator password hash. This approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1565.001 (Data Manipulation: Stored Data Manipulation) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as it leverages legitimate session management functionality to gain unauthorized access to administrative credentials. The vulnerability demonstrates how insecure file system permissions and improper session handling can create persistent security weaknesses that remain exploitable until properly addressed.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper file system access controls and secure session management practices. System administrators should immediately restrict access to the sessions directory using appropriate file permissions, ensuring that only the web server process can read and write session files. The application should be updated to version 3.2 or later, which contains fixes for this specific vulnerability. Additionally, implementing session management best practices such as using secure session storage mechanisms, implementing proper session timeout controls, and employing strong encryption for session data would prevent similar issues. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to session directories and establish proper access logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process should include comprehensive security auditing of all session management components and verification that no other applications suffer from similar directory traversal or file access issues.