CVE-2005-3280 in Paros
Summary
by MITRE
Paros 3.2.5 uses a default password for the "sa" account in the underlying HSQLDB database and does not restrict access to the local machine, which allows remote attackers to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3280 affects Paros 3.2.5, a web application security testing tool that utilizes HSQLDB as its underlying database management system. This issue represents a critical security flaw that stems from poor default configuration practices within the application's database setup. The vulnerability specifically targets the administrative account known as "sa" which is configured with a hardcoded default password, creating an easily exploitable entry point for malicious actors. The flaw exists because the developers failed to implement proper authentication mechanisms or enforce access restrictions, leaving the database accessible from remote locations without adequate security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the use of a default database user account with a well-known password that remains unchanged in the default installation. When Paros 3.2.5 initializes its database component, it creates an administrative account named "sa" with a default password that is publicly documented and widely known within the security community. This configuration violates fundamental security principles and creates a persistent attack surface that remote adversaries can leverage without requiring any specialized knowledge or advanced exploitation techniques. The absence of local machine access restrictions means that network-based attackers can directly connect to the database service and authenticate using the default credentials to gain administrative privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it provides attackers with complete control over the application's database layer and potentially the underlying system. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can manipulate, delete, or exfiltrate sensitive data stored within the Paros application's database, including configuration files, scan results, and potentially user information. The privilege escalation aspect of this vulnerability allows attackers to perform administrative actions that could compromise the integrity of the entire security testing environment. This flaw particularly affects organizations that deploy Paros in production environments or use it for extended security assessments where the database may contain sensitive information about target systems.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-798, which addresses the use of hard-coded credentials, and CWE-284, which covers improper access control mechanisms. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which involves legitimate credentials obtained through default accounts, and T1046, which covers network service scanning to identify accessible services. Organizations using Paros 3.2.5 should immediately implement mitigations including changing the default database password, restricting network access to the database service, and ensuring that database access is properly restricted to local machine connections only. Additionally, security configurations should be reviewed to ensure that all default accounts are disabled or have strong, unique passwords assigned. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar configuration flaws in other applications and systems that may be using default credentials or insufficient access controls. The incident highlights the importance of following security best practices during software installation and configuration, particularly regarding authentication mechanisms and access control policies that should be implemented from the initial deployment phase.