CVE-2005-1577 in ClassMaster
Summary
by MITRE
APG Technology ClassMaster does not properly restrict access to sensitive folders, which allows remote attackers to access folders via a network share.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1577 affects APG Technology ClassMaster software, a classroom management system designed for educational environments. This flaw represents a critical access control weakness that undermines the security posture of systems relying on this technology. The vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization mechanisms within the software's file system access controls, creating a pathway for unauthorized network-based access to protected resources. The issue manifests specifically when the system fails to properly validate network requests attempting to access sensitive directories through shared network resources, potentially exposing confidential educational data and system configuration files to malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the software's failure to enforce proper access restrictions on network shares that are intended to contain sensitive classroom management data. When remote attackers establish network connections to the affected system, they can exploit the inadequate access controls to enumerate and access folders that should remain restricted to authorized personnel only. This flaw operates at the network protocol level where authentication and authorization checks are bypassed, allowing unauthenticated or improperly authenticated users to traverse the file system and access restricted directories. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor through the network interface that circumvents normal access control mechanisms designed to protect sensitive educational data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially compromising the integrity and confidentiality of entire educational environments. Attackers could access student records, classroom configurations, assignment data, and other sensitive information stored within the restricted folders. The network-based nature of the exploit means that this vulnerability could be leveraged from external networks without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in educational institutions where network security may be less stringent than in corporate environments. Additionally, the exposure of system configuration files could provide attackers with insights into the underlying infrastructure, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks or privilege escalation attempts.
Organizations utilizing APG Technology ClassMaster should implement immediate mitigations including network segmentation to isolate affected systems from untrusted networks, implementation of proper firewall rules to restrict access to the software's network shares, and regular security audits to identify and remediate similar access control weaknesses. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, and represents a classic example of inadequate privilege separation. From an att&ck framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to tactics such as credential access and defense evasion, as attackers could use the access to gather credentials or manipulate system files to avoid detection. Regular patching and proper access control configuration should be prioritized to prevent exploitation, with network monitoring implemented to detect suspicious access patterns to shared resources. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure configuration management and demonstrates how seemingly minor access control oversights can create significant security risks in educational technology environments.