CVE-2005-0685 in Participate Enterprise
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple access validation errors in OutStart Participate Enterprise (PE) allow remote attackers to (1) browse arbitrary directory trees by modifying the rootFolder parameter to displaynavigator.jsp, (2) rename arbitrary directory objects by modifying the selectedObject parameter to renamepopup.jsp, (3) delete arbitrary directory objects by modifying the selectedObjectsCSV parameter to displaydeletenavigator.jsp, and conduct other unauthorized activities via the (4) showDeleteView, (5) showWebFolderView, (6) showLibraryView, (7) showMyLibraryView, (8) singleSelectObject, (9) processRadioSelection, (10) processCheckboxSelection, (11) singleSelectObject, (12) addToSelectedObjects, or (13) removeFromSelectedObjects commands.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0685 represents a critical access control flaw within OutStart Participate Enterprise version 2.0 and earlier systems. This weakness stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms that govern directory navigation and manipulation functions within the web-based administration interface. The vulnerability affects multiple.jsp files including displaynavigator.jsp, renamepopup.jsp, and displaydeletenavigator.jsp, which form the core components for directory management operations within the enterprise content management system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through parameter manipulation attacks targeting specific input variables within the web application's request processing pipeline. Attackers can exploit the rootFolder parameter in displaynavigator.jsp to traverse arbitrary directory structures, effectively bypassing normal access controls that should restrict users to their designated file system locations. Similarly, the selectedObject parameter in renamepopup.jsp allows unauthorized directory object renaming, while the selectedObjectsCSV parameter in displaydeletenavigator.jsp enables deletion of arbitrary directory objects without proper authentication or authorization checks. These flaws collectively represent a classic case of insufficient access validation, which maps directly to CWE-285: Improper Authorization and CWE-284: Improper Access Control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables complete directory traversal and manipulation capabilities that can result in data loss, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential system compromise. Remote attackers can leverage these access validation errors to conduct extensive unauthorized activities including directory browsing, object renaming, and mass deletion operations across the entire directory structure. The vulnerability affects multiple command processing functions such as showDeleteView, showWebFolderView, showLibraryView, and various selection processing commands that handle user interactions with directory objects. This broad attack surface increases the potential for successful exploitation and makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where proper access controls are essential for maintaining data integrity and security.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping to techniques such as T1078 Valid Accounts for maintaining persistence and T1566 Phishing for initial access, as attackers may use these vulnerabilities to establish unauthorized access to sensitive directory structures. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution risk through directory manipulation capabilities makes it particularly concerning for organizations that rely on proper access controls for their enterprise content management systems. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, access control enforcement, and proper authentication mechanisms to prevent unauthorized directory traversal and manipulation operations. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input sanitization, particularly in enterprise web applications that handle sensitive directory management functions and user access controls.