CVE-2005-2790 in BFCC
Summary
by MITRE
BFCommand & Control Server Manager BFCC 1.22_A and earlier, and BFVCC 2.14_B and earlier, relies on the client to enforce permissions and perform actions such as disconnections, which allows remote attackers to bypass administrative restrictions via a modified client.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2790 affects BFCommand & Control Server Manager BFCC versions 1.22_A and earlier, as well as BFVCC versions 2.14_B and earlier. This represents a critical security flaw in the permission enforcement mechanisms of these network management systems. The vulnerability stems from the improper design of access control mechanisms where the server trusts client-side validation rather than implementing robust server-side verification of user privileges and actions.
The technical flaw manifests in the architecture's reliance on client-side enforcement for critical administrative functions including user disconnections and permission management. This architectural weakness creates a fundamental trust violation where the server assumes that clients will properly enforce access controls and perform legitimate actions. When an attacker modifies the client software, they can bypass the intended administrative restrictions that should normally prevent unauthorized actions. The vulnerability essentially allows malicious actors to assume elevated privileges or perform actions that should be restricted to authorized administrators.
This vulnerability has significant operational impact as it undermines the core security model of these command and control systems. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to network management functions, potentially leading to complete compromise of the controlled network infrastructure. The ability to bypass administrative restrictions through client modification creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly. Organizations relying on these systems face risks including unauthorized network access, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within their network environments. The vulnerability also represents a violation of the principle of least privilege, where the system fails to enforce proper access controls at the server level.
The security implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation as this vulnerability aligns with several attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework, particularly those involving privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques. From a CWE perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and potentially CWE-310, which covers cryptographic weaknesses in access control mechanisms. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of the affected software, implementing network segmentation to limit access to these management systems, and deploying additional monitoring to detect unauthorized client modifications. The recommended approach involves strengthening server-side validation mechanisms and eliminating trust in client-side permission enforcement while also establishing robust audit trails for administrative actions.