CVE-2005-4345 in Coldfusion MX
Summary
by MITRE
adobe (formerly macromedia) coldfusion mx 7.0 exposes the password hash of the administrator in an api call which allows local developers to obtain the hash and gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2019
Adobe ColdFusion MX 7.0 contains a critical security vulnerability that allows local developers to obtain administrator password hashes through an API call, representing a significant privilege escalation risk. This vulnerability stems from improper access controls within the ColdFusion administrator API, specifically exposing sensitive authentication data to unauthorized users who should not have access to such administrative information. The flaw exists in the way ColdFusion handles API requests for administrator credentials, allowing any local user with access to the ColdFusion application to retrieve the password hash through legitimate API endpoints that were not properly secured. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate input validation and access control mechanisms within the application's security architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the ColdFusion administrator API which, when accessed by local users, returns password hash information without proper authentication checks or authorization verification. Attackers can exploit this by making specific API calls that target the administrator account information, bypassing normal security controls that should prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to obtain password hashes rather than just plain text passwords, which means they can potentially use these hashes for offline cracking attacks or employ them in credential reuse attacks against other systems. This issue aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and demonstrates weak security controls that fail to properly authenticate and authorize API requests.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-4345 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with the means to compromise entire ColdFusion installations and potentially gain access to sensitive data stored within the application. Local developers who should only have limited access to the application can leverage this vulnerability to escalate their privileges to administrator level access, potentially enabling them to modify application configurations, access restricted data, or even deploy malicious code within the ColdFusion environment. This vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by both internal and external attackers who gain local access to the system, as the password hash can be used for lateral movement attacks or to compromise other systems that may share similar credentials. The vulnerability also impacts the integrity and confidentiality of the ColdFusion application, as unauthorized access to administrator credentials can lead to data breaches or system compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including restricting API access to trusted administrators only, implementing proper authentication checks for all API endpoints, and ensuring that password hash information is not exposed through public API calls. The recommended approach involves configuring access controls to prevent unauthorized users from accessing administrative API functions, implementing role-based access control mechanisms, and regularly auditing API usage patterns to detect suspicious activity. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit local access to ColdFusion installations and ensure that administrative functions are only accessible from trusted network segments. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper API security implementation and demonstrates how insufficient access control can lead to critical privilege escalation scenarios that compromise entire application environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique where adversaries leverage insecure API implementations to gain elevated system access, making it a critical concern for organizations maintaining ColdFusion applications.