CVE-2005-2454 in Lotus Notes
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Lotus Notes 6.5.4 and 6.5.5, and 7.0.0 and 7.0.1, uses insecure default permissions (Everyone/Full Control) for the "Notes" folder and all children, which allows local users to gain privileges and modify, add, or delete files in that folder.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2454 represents a critical security flaw in IBM Lotus Notes versions 6.5.4 through 6.5.5 and 7.0.0 through 7.0.1. This issue stems from the application's default configuration where the "Notes" folder and all its subdirectories are granted Everyone/Full Control permissions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-276, which specifically addresses incorrect permissions for critical resources, making it a fundamental access control weakness that directly impacts system security. The flaw exists at the file system level where the application fails to implement proper discretionary access control mechanisms during installation, creating an exploitable condition that persists across the application's operational lifecycle.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the default security configuration where IBM Lotus Notes creates the Notes folder with overly permissive access controls. When the application installs, it establishes the Notes directory structure with default permissions that grant full control to all users on the system, including local users who may not have legitimate administrative access. This misconfiguration allows any local user to execute arbitrary file operations within the Notes folder, including reading, writing, modifying, or deleting critical application files. The flaw operates at the operating system level where Windows file permissions are not properly restricted, enabling privilege escalation through simple file system manipulation rather than requiring complex exploitation techniques.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using affected IBM Lotus Notes versions, as it provides local attackers with complete control over the Notes application data and configuration files. The impact extends beyond simple unauthorized access to include potential data integrity compromise, confidentiality breaches, and system availability issues. Attackers can manipulate email databases, configuration files, and other critical application components to disrupt service or extract sensitive information. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through insecure permissions, and T1566, covering social engineering attacks that exploit such weak access controls. The vulnerability also contributes to broader security posture degradation, as it allows attackers to maintain persistence within the system through file modifications that can be used to establish backdoors or hide malicious activities.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including manual permission adjustments to restrict access to the Notes folder and its subdirectories, ensuring that only authorized users and processes have appropriate access levels. System administrators should conduct comprehensive security audits to identify all instances of affected IBM Lotus Notes versions and apply the necessary permission changes to prevent unauthorized access. The recommended remediation approach includes implementing least privilege access controls where the Notes folder permissions are restricted to specific user groups or individual accounts, typically following the principle of least privilege as outlined in security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53. Additionally, organizations should consider upgrading to supported versions of IBM Lotus Notes that properly implement secure default configurations, as newer releases address this specific vulnerability through improved access control mechanisms and default security settings that prevent the insecure permission assignment described in the vulnerability.