CVE-2005-4219 in Innovative CMS
Summary
by MITRE
setting.php in Innovative CMS (ICMS, formerly Imoel-CMS) contains username and password information in cleartext, which might allow attackers to obtain this information via a direct request to setting.php. NOTE: on a properly configured web server, it would be expected that a .php file would be processsed before content is returned to the user, so this might not be a vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2017
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2005-4219 affects Innovative CMS (ICMS) version 0.5.0 and earlier, specifically targeting the setting.php file that stores sensitive authentication credentials in cleartext format. This represents a critical security flaw that violates fundamental principles of credential protection and secure configuration management. The issue manifests when the web server fails to properly process php files before serving content, allowing direct access to configuration files that contain database connection strings with plaintext usernames and passwords. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage, and also aligns with CWE-540, concerning the inclusion of sensitive information in source code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when attackers can bypass normal web server processing mechanisms and directly request the setting.php file through a web browser or automated tools. When the web server does not properly execute the php code before serving the content, the plaintext credentials become visible in the HTTP response. This scenario typically occurs on misconfigured servers where php processing is disabled or improperly configured, or when the web server is not properly secured to prevent direct file access. The operational impact is severe as attackers can immediately gain access to database credentials, potentially enabling them to compromise the entire database infrastructure, extract sensitive user data, and escalate privileges within the application environment. The vulnerability also provides attackers with information that could facilitate further attacks including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within network environments.
This vulnerability demonstrates a critical failure in the security configuration of web applications and highlights the importance of proper server hardening practices. The issue can be addressed through multiple mitigation strategies including proper web server configuration to ensure php files are always processed before content delivery, implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms, and ensuring that sensitive configuration files are not directly accessible through web root directories. Organizations should also implement the principle of least privilege by ensuring that database credentials used by web applications have minimal required permissions and are regularly rotated. The vulnerability also underscores the need for proper input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential access through unsecured network services and exposed configuration files. Additionally, this vulnerability emphasizes the importance of proper file permissions and the implementation of secure coding practices that prevent sensitive data exposure through configuration files and system utilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive server security hardening, regular security audits, and implementation of automated monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration files.