CVE-2004-2576 in phpGroupWare
Summary
by MITRE
class.vfs_dav.inc.php in phpGroupWare 0.9.16.000 does not create .htaccess files to enable authorization checks for access to users home-directory files, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from these files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-2576 represents a critical access control flaw within the phpGroupWare web application framework version 0.9.16.000. This issue specifically affects the class.vfs_dav.inc.php file which handles virtual file system operations through WebDAV protocols. The flaw stems from improper implementation of authorization mechanisms that should normally protect user home directory contents from unauthorized access. When the application fails to generate appropriate .htaccess files, it creates a significant security gap that undermines the intended access controls for individual user data.
The technical nature of this vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-284, which deals with improper access control mechanisms, and more specifically relates to CWE-538, concerning the inclusion of sensitive information in log files. The flaw manifests when phpGroupWare does not properly enforce authorization checks for user home directories, allowing remote attackers to bypass the intended access restrictions. This occurs because the system fails to create necessary .htaccess configuration files that would typically restrict access to sensitive user data through web server level controls. The absence of these protective measures means that files stored in users' home directories become accessible to anyone who can guess or discover the appropriate URLs.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from user home directory files without proper authentication. The security implications extend beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise user privacy and system integrity. Attackers could access personal documents, configuration files, or other sensitive data stored in user directories, leading to potential data breaches and privacy violations. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of phpGroupWare by undermining the expected isolation between user accounts, which is a core principle of multi-user web applications. This weakness creates a persistent risk for all users whose data resides in the affected system's home directories.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the web server level where attackers can leverage simple HTTP requests to access protected resources. The flaw essentially removes the web server's ability to enforce access controls that would normally be provided by .htaccess files, which are standard security mechanisms in apache web servers. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which involves valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting through social engineering or system exploitation. Organizations using phpGroupWare 0.9.16.000 should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions, manually creating appropriate .htaccess files, and reviewing access controls for user home directories. Additionally, comprehensive security audits should be conducted to identify any other potential access control weaknesses in the application's file system handling mechanisms.