CVE-2005-3480 in CaseBook
Summary
by MITRE
login.asp in Ringtail CaseBook 6.1.0 displays different error messages depending on whether a user exists or not, which allows remote attackers to determine valid usernames.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2018
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2005-3480 affects Ringtail CaseBook version 6.1.0 and specifically targets the login.asp component of the application. This flaw represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that undermines the security posture of the system by providing attackers with actionable intelligence about valid user accounts. The vulnerability stems from the application's insecure error handling mechanism within its authentication process, where the system provides different responses based on whether a submitted username exists in the system. This behavior creates a direct attack vector that can be exploited to enumerate valid usernames through simple brute force or automated techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the login.asp script's response logic which differentiates between valid and invalid user attempts by returning distinct error messages. When an attacker submits a username that does not exist in the system, the application returns one type of error message indicating an invalid username. However, when a valid username is submitted but an incorrect password is provided, the system returns a different error message indicating an authentication failure. This differential response pattern creates a clear distinction that attackers can leverage to systematically identify valid user accounts without requiring any legitimate credentials or prior knowledge of the system's user base.
From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability significantly increases the attack surface and reduces the effectiveness of authentication controls. The ability to enumerate valid usernames enables attackers to focus their efforts on specific targets rather than conducting blind brute force attacks against the entire user population. This information disclosure directly impacts the system's security model by weakening the principle of least privilege and providing attackers with a foundation for more sophisticated attacks such as credential stuffing, password spraying, or targeted social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses information exposure, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should prevent information leakage through error handling mechanisms.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple username enumeration, as it creates opportunities for subsequent attacks that can lead to full system compromise. Once valid usernames are identified, attackers can proceed with password guessing or credential reuse attacks against these accounts, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive case data, legal documents, and other confidential information stored within the Ringtail CaseBook system. This vulnerability also exposes the system to account lockout attacks, where repeated failed login attempts can be used to identify valid accounts and potentially disrupt legitimate user access. The attack pattern described in MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1078, which covers valid accounts, demonstrates how this information disclosure vulnerability can serve as a foundational step for broader compromise operations. Organizations should implement proper error handling that provides generic responses regardless of whether a username exists, ensuring that authentication systems do not leak information about their user base. The remediation strategy should focus on implementing consistent error messaging that does not distinguish between invalid usernames and invalid credentials, thereby eliminating the information disclosure vector that enables this attack.