CVE-2005-1092 in deluxeftp
Summary
by MITRE
lightspeed deluxeftp 6.01 stores usernames and passwords in plaintext in sites.xml which is world-readable which allows local users to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1092 represents a critical security flaw in the lightspeed deluxeftp 6.01 software that demonstrates poor security practices in credential storage and access control. This issue affects the software's handling of user authentication data, specifically exposing sensitive information through improper file permissions and encryption methods. The vulnerability resides in the application's configuration file management system where user credentials are stored in an unencrypted format within the sites.xml file.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the software's failure to properly secure authentication credentials through inadequate access controls. When users configure their FTP connections within the deluxeftp application, the system stores both usernames and passwords in plaintext format within the sites.xml configuration file. This design choice directly violates fundamental security principles and creates a persistent exposure point for unauthorized access. The file is configured with world-readable permissions, meaning any local user on the system can access the file without requiring authentication or elevated privileges. This configuration creates a privilege escalation vector where local attackers can easily extract stored credentials and potentially leverage them for unauthorized access to remote systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass broader security implications for systems running the affected software. Local users who can read the sites.xml file gain immediate access to multiple FTP server credentials, potentially enabling them to access sensitive corporate or personal data stored on remote servers. The vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient access control mechanisms and poor privilege management, creating a scenario where the principle of least privilege is completely violated. Attackers can exploit this weakness without requiring network access or external attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where local access is common.
This vulnerability aligns with several cybersecurity standards and frameworks, including CWE-312 (Sensitive Data Exposure) and CWE-276 (Insecure Default Permissions), which specifically address the exposure of sensitive information through improper file permissions and encryption practices. The flaw also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1555.003 (Credentials from Password Stores) as it involves the extraction of stored credentials through local file access rather than network-based attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the application's security architecture and highlights the importance of implementing proper credential management practices, including encrypted storage mechanisms, restricted file permissions, and regular security audits of configuration files.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through proper file permission configuration and long-term architectural improvements. System administrators should immediately change file permissions on sites.xml to restrict access to only the intended user account and ensure that no other users or processes can read the file. The software should be updated to implement encrypted credential storage using industry-standard encryption algorithms such as AES-256, ensuring that even if files are compromised, the stored information remains protected. Additionally, organizations should implement regular security monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to credential storage files and establish proper access control policies that limit local user privileges. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of security by design principles and the critical importance of conducting thorough security assessments of all software components, particularly those handling sensitive user data.