CVE-2004-1573 in CuteNews
Summary
by MITRE
The documentation for AJ-Fork 167 implies that users should set permissions for users.db.php to 777, which allows local users to execute arbitrary PHP code and gain privileges as the administrator.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-1573 represents a critical security flaw in the AJ-Fork 167 content management system that stems from improper file permission configuration practices. This issue demonstrates how documentation that inadvertently recommends insecure permission settings can create exploitable conditions within web applications. The vulnerability specifically targets the users.db.php file, which serves as a critical database file for user authentication and management within the system.
The technical flaw occurs when administrators follow the documented recommendation to set permissions for users.db.php to 777, which grants read, write, and execute permissions to all users on the system. This permission setting creates a privilege escalation vector because the file contains user authentication data and potentially sensitive configuration information. When local users can write to this file, they can inject malicious PHP code that will execute with the privileges of the web server process, typically running as the administrator or root user. This represents a classic path traversal and code execution vulnerability that leverages weak file system permissions to bypass authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Local attackers who can access the system can escalate their privileges to administrative levels, gaining complete control over the web application and potentially the underlying server. This allows for data exfiltration, modification of user accounts, installation of backdoors, and complete compromise of the system. The vulnerability affects any system running AJ-Fork 167 where the documentation's permission recommendations are followed without proper security review. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to exploit and can lead to full system compromise.
This vulnerability aligns with several cybersecurity frameworks and threat modeling concepts, including CWE-732, which addresses inadequate permissions for critical resources, and represents a violation of the principle of least privilege. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be categorized under T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation'. The issue also reflects poor security hygiene practices that can be addressed through proper security configuration management and regular security audits. Organizations should implement mandatory security reviews of documentation and configuration recommendations to prevent such vulnerabilities from being introduced into production environments. The recommended mitigation involves changing the file permissions to the minimum required level, typically 644 or 600, depending on the specific system requirements, and implementing proper access controls to ensure that only authorized users can modify critical system files.