CVE-2004-2734 in NetWare
Summary
by MITRE
webadmin-apache.conf in Novell Web Manager of Novell NetWare 6.5 uses an uppercase Alias tag with an inconsistent lowercase directory tag for a volume, which allows remote attackers to bypass access control to the WEB-INF folder.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2734 resides within the Novell Web Manager component of Novell NetWare 6.5 systems, specifically in the webadmin-apache.conf configuration file. This flaw represents a classic case of inconsistent case handling in web server configuration directives that ultimately compromises access control mechanisms. The issue manifests when the configuration employs an uppercase Alias directive paired with a lowercase directory specification for the same volume, creating a misconfiguration that attackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access to sensitive directories.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from the Apache web server's handling of case-sensitive configuration directives. When the Alias directive is specified in uppercase while the corresponding Directory directive uses lowercase naming for the same volume, the web server fails to properly correlate these configuration elements. This inconsistency creates a path traversal opportunity where the access control rules defined for the lowercase directory do not properly apply to the uppercase alias, effectively allowing remote attackers to bypass intended security restrictions. The vulnerability specifically targets the WEB-INF folder, which typically contains critical application configuration files, class files, and other sensitive components that should remain protected from direct web access.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant security risk for organizations running Novell NetWare 6.5 systems with Web Manager installed. The ability to bypass access control to the WEB-INF directory exposes potentially sensitive application components that could contain database connection strings, application logic, or other confidential information. Attackers could leverage this flaw to access configuration files that might reveal authentication credentials, database schemas, or application source code. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require local system access or credentials to potentially compromise the affected systems, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. The inconsistency in case handling within Apache configuration files demonstrates poor input validation and configuration management practices that can lead to security bypass scenarios. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access through configuration flaws. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it allows adversaries to bypass authentication mechanisms that should protect sensitive application directories. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including proper case consistency in Apache configuration files, regular security audits of web server configurations, and deployment of patches from Novell if available. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring of access attempts to sensitive directories should be implemented as defensive measures to detect potential exploitation attempts.