CVE-2005-0746 in iChain
Summary
by MITRE
The Mini FTP server in Novell iChain 2.2 and 2.3 SP2 and earlier allows remote unauthenticated attackers to obtain the full path of the server via the PWD command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0746 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within the Mini FTP server component of Novell iChain 2.2 and 2.3 SP2 software versions. This issue affects organizations relying on Novell's identity and access management solutions where the Mini FTP server functionality is enabled. The vulnerability specifically manifests through the PWD command implementation, which is part of the standard File Transfer Protocol specification but exhibits improper handling of authentication states within this particular software implementation.
The technical flaw stems from the Mini FTP server's failure to properly enforce authentication requirements before responding to the PWD command. In standard FTP implementations, the PWD command should only be accessible to authenticated users or should provide a generic response that does not reveal sensitive path information. However, the Novell iChain implementation allows unauthenticated attackers to issue the PWD command and receive the complete server path structure in the response. This behavior directly violates fundamental security principles of access control and information hiding that are essential for protecting system internals from unauthorized discovery.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with critical path information that can be leveraged in subsequent attacks. The full server path disclosure enables attackers to understand the directory structure, potentially identifying sensitive files, configuration locations, and system layout patterns. This information can significantly aid in crafting more sophisticated attacks, including directory traversal attempts, file system enumeration, and exploitation of other vulnerabilities that may exist within the disclosed paths. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper output handling that can lead to information exposure, and represents a classic example of how insufficient access controls can compromise system security.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and contributes to the broader category of reconnaissance activities that precede more destructive attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication credentials to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker. Organizations using affected Novell iChain versions face increased risk of targeted attacks where the disclosed path information serves as a foundation for further exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also impacts the principle of least privilege, as it violates the expected behavior of a secure FTP server implementation that should not reveal internal path structures to unauthorized parties.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-0746 should focus on immediate patching of affected Novell iChain software versions, as well as implementing network-level controls to restrict FTP access where possible. Organizations should disable the Mini FTP server functionality if it is not essential for business operations, and implement proper network segmentation to limit exposure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper authentication enforcement in network services, particularly those that handle file system operations. Additionally, monitoring for unauthorized FTP activity and implementing intrusion detection systems can help identify exploitation attempts. The incident highlights the necessity of regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes to identify and remediate similar information disclosure vulnerabilities across the entire software ecosystem.