CVE-2004-1532 in AppServ
Summary
by MITRE
AppServ 2.5.x and earlier installs a default username and password, which allows remote attackers to gain access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1532 represents a critical security flaw in AppServ 2.5.x and earlier versions where the software ships with hardcoded default credentials that remain unchanged after installation. This configuration creates an immediately exploitable entry point for unauthorized users who can remotely access the system using well-known default username and password combinations. The flaw exists at the authentication layer and fundamentally violates the principle of least privilege by providing unrestricted administrative access without requiring any additional security measures or user configuration.
This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-798, which classifies the use of hard-coded credentials as a weakness that allows unauthorized access to systems. The default credentials in AppServ create a persistent backdoor that remains active until explicitly changed by the system administrator, making it particularly dangerous as it requires no specialized knowledge or advanced exploitation techniques. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain full administrative control over the application server, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data stored or processed by the server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including data exfiltration, system modification, privilege escalation, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The remote accessibility of these default credentials means that attackers can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access or specialized tools. This makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to automated scanning tools and botnets that systematically target known vulnerable configurations. Organizations running affected versions of AppServ face immediate risk of compromise, with potential consequences including regulatory violations, financial losses, and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate administrative action to change the default credentials to strong, unique passwords that meet security best practices. System administrators should implement comprehensive credential management policies that enforce regular password rotation and prohibit the use of default accounts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security configuration management and the need for organizations to conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues. Organizations should follow the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques by ensuring that default accounts are disabled or removed entirely from production environments, and that all default configurations are reviewed and hardened according to security benchmarks. Additionally, network segmentation and access control measures should be implemented to limit the potential impact of credential compromise, while continuous monitoring and logging should be enabled to detect unauthorized access attempts and confirm successful exploitation of this vulnerability.