CVE-2005-0391 in geneweb
Summary
by MITRE
geneweb 4.10 and earlier does not properly check file permissions and content during conversion, which allows attackers to modify arbitrary files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0391 affects geneweb version 4.10 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw in the software's file handling mechanisms. This issue stems from insufficient validation during the conversion process, where the application fails to properly verify file permissions and content integrity before processing. The root cause lies in the application's trust model, which assumes that incoming files are safe without adequate verification steps, creating an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to gain unauthorized file system access. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-22, which specifically addresses improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks, though in this case the exploitation extends beyond simple path traversal to arbitrary file modification.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the conversion process in ways that bypass normal file system security controls. When geneweb processes files through its conversion routines, it does not validate whether the target files have appropriate permissions or whether the content being processed matches expected formats. This lack of validation enables attackers to craft malicious input that, when processed, results in arbitrary file modification on the target system. The flaw essentially provides an attacker with the ability to write to any location within the file system that the geneweb process has write permissions to, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or persistent access to the compromised system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations using affected versions of geneweb, particularly those managing genealogical data repositories or family history databases. The arbitrary file modification capability could enable attackers to inject malicious code, overwrite critical system files, or establish backdoors for persistent access. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system, as attackers could potentially corrupt data, gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, or disrupt system operations. Given that genealogical applications often store personal and sensitive family information, the compromise of such systems could lead to identity theft, privacy violations, and data breaches that affect numerous individuals.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates to versions that address the file permission and content validation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all instances of geneweb are updated to versions that properly validate file permissions and content during conversion processes. Additionally, system administrators should review and tighten file system permissions for geneweb installations, limiting write access to only necessary directories and implementing least privilege principles. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual file modification patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code through file modification attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and input validation controls to further reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.