CVE-2005-1675 in virtual office
Summary
by MITRE
groove virtual office before 3.1 build 2338 before 3.1a build 2364 and groove workspace before 2.5n build 1871 installs the client installation directories with insecure everybody permissions which allows local users to gain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1675 affects Microsoft Groove Virtual Office versions prior to 3.1 build 2338 and Groove Workspace versions prior to 2.5n build 1871. This security flaw represents a classic case of insecure permissions configuration during software installation processes. The vulnerability stems from the installation routine failing to properly set access control permissions on client installation directories, leaving these directories accessible to all users with "everybody" permissions. This configuration creates a significant security risk by allowing local users to access sensitive information that should remain protected within the application's installation environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which specifically addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources. The flaw occurs during the installation phase when the software creates directory structures and fails to implement proper discretionary access control mechanisms. This misconfiguration allows any local user account to traverse the installation directories and potentially extract sensitive data, configuration files, or authentication tokens that may be stored within these locations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core installation process rather than runtime operations, meaning the insecure permissions are present from the moment the software is installed.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability provides local users with unauthorized access to potentially sensitive information that could include configuration settings, user credentials, or other proprietary data. Attackers could leverage this access to gather intelligence about the system configuration, identify potential attack vectors, or extract information that could aid in further exploitation attempts. The vulnerability is classified as a local privilege escalation risk since it allows users who might not have elevated privileges to access information that should be restricted to authorized personnel. This type of vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where multiple users share the same system or network resources.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves updating to the patched versions of Groove Virtual Office 3.1a build 2364 or Groove Workspace 2.5n build 1871, which properly implement secure permissions during installation. System administrators should also conduct thorough audits of existing installations to ensure that no systems have the vulnerable versions installed. Additional defensive measures include implementing proper access control policies, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to installation directories, and ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive system resources. Organizations should also consider implementing privilege separation mechanisms and regular security assessments to identify similar permission-related vulnerabilities in other software installations. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation during software deployment processes and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through insecure file permissions.