CVE-2005-4021 in Gallery
Summary
by MITRE
The installer for Gallery 2.0 before 2.0.2 stores the install log under the web document root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4021 affects the Gallery 2.0 content management system prior to version 2.0.2, specifically within its installation process. This flaw represents a critical security oversight that exposes sensitive system information to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability stems from improper access controls implemented during the installation phase of the software, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers without requiring authentication or elevated privileges. The affected system configuration places installation logs directly within the web document root directory structure, making them immediately accessible through standard web requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the installer component failing to enforce proper access restrictions on log files that are generated during the installation process. These log files typically contain sensitive information including database connection details, administrative credentials, and system configuration parameters that are essential for the proper functioning of the application. The installation log files are created with default permissions that allow read access to all users of the web server, including anonymous internet users who can access these files through standard http requests. This misconfiguration violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper file access control mechanisms.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for organizations deploying Gallery 2.0 systems. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to obtain database credentials, server configuration details, and potentially other sensitive information that could be used for further attacks. The exposure of database connection strings and administrative credentials provides attackers with direct access to backend databases, potentially enabling data theft, modification of content, or complete system compromise. The vulnerability also exposes system architecture information that could be leveraged in more sophisticated attack vectors targeting other components of the infrastructure. This type of information disclosure vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in system design.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects the initial installation phase of the application, meaning that any system running an affected version of Gallery 2.0 is potentially compromised from the moment it is deployed. Attackers can simply access the installation log files through predictable paths within the web root directory, making exploitation trivial and requiring no specialized tools or techniques. This vulnerability also demonstrates poor security hygiene in the software development lifecycle, as proper access control measures should have been implemented during the installation process. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Gallery 2.0.2 or later versions, manually removing installation log files from web-accessible directories, and ensuring proper file permissions are enforced on all installation artifacts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure configuration management and the need for comprehensive security testing during software development and deployment phases, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1592 for reconnaissance and T1071 for application layer protocols that can be used to gather system information through exposed files.