CVE-2005-2785 in Cosmoshop
Summary
by MITRE
cosmoshop 8.10.78 and earlier stores passwords in plaintext in the database, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2785 represents a critical security flaw in cosmoshop versions 8.10.78 and earlier, where the application stores user passwords in plaintext format within its database infrastructure. This design decision fundamentally compromises the security posture of the system by eliminating any form of password protection mechanisms that would normally safeguard against unauthorized access. The issue stems from poor cryptographic implementation practices where sensitive authentication data is persisted without any form of hashing or encryption, making the stored credentials immediately accessible to anyone with database access privileges. This vulnerability directly violates fundamental security principles and best practices established in industry standards such as the CWE-312 category for "Sensitive Data Exposure" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 for "Modify System Image" through the persistence of unencrypted credentials.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the application's database schema design where password fields are configured to store raw password values rather than their cryptographic hashes or encrypted representations. This plaintext storage approach creates an inherent weakness that allows local attackers with database access to directly extract password information without requiring additional cracking or decryption efforts. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core authentication mechanism of the system, providing attackers with immediate access to user credentials that can be leveraged for further unauthorized activities. The absence of proper password handling mechanisms means that even if other security controls are functioning correctly, the compromised database provides a direct pathway to authenticate as any user within the system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to user accounts and potentially escalate their privileges within the system. Local users with database access can extract plaintext passwords and use them to authenticate as legitimate users, potentially accessing sensitive customer data, financial information, or administrative functions. The attack surface is significantly expanded because the vulnerability does not require network access or complex exploitation techniques - simply having local database access is sufficient to compromise the entire authentication system. This weakness can lead to data breaches, unauthorized transactions, and complete system compromise, as attackers can leverage the extracted credentials to move laterally within the network and escalate their privileges.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the fundamental design flaw in the password storage mechanism. Organizations should immediately implement password hashing using strong cryptographic algorithms such as bcrypt, scrypt, or PBKDF2, ensuring that passwords are never stored in plaintext format. Database access controls should be strictly enforced to limit who can access the password storage areas, and regular security audits should verify that no plaintext passwords remain in the system. Additionally, implementing proper key management practices and database encryption can provide additional layers of protection. The remediation process should include rehashing existing passwords and ensuring that all future password storage follows industry standards such as those recommended by NIST Special Publication 800-63B for digital identity management. This vulnerability serves as a classic example of why security by design principles must be implemented from the initial development phase rather than addressed as afterthoughts in the security lifecycle.