CVE-2005-4850 in eZ publish
Summary
by MITRE
eZ publish 3.5 through 3.7 before 20050608 requires both edit and create permissions in order to submit data, which allows remote attackers to edit data submitted by arbitrary anonymous users.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-4850 affects eZ publish content management systems version 3.5 through 3.7 released before the patch date of June 8, 2005. This represents a critical access control flaw that fundamentally undermines the security model of the platform. The issue stems from improper permission validation mechanisms within the data submission process, creating a scenario where unauthorized users can manipulate content that was originally submitted by anonymous parties.
The technical flaw manifests in the permission checking logic where the system erroneously requires both edit and create permissions to process data submissions. This design decision creates a dangerous privilege escalation vector because it allows attackers to exploit the system's validation process to modify content that was initially created by anonymous users. The vulnerability specifically impacts the data submission and modification workflows within the eZ publish framework, where the permission model fails to properly differentiate between content ownership and modification rights.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute unauthorized data modification attacks against any content submitted by anonymous users within the affected eZ publish installations. The impact extends beyond simple content tampering to potentially include data corruption, information disclosure, or the injection of malicious content that could compromise the entire platform. This vulnerability particularly affects websites that rely on user-generated content submission features, as it allows attackers to manipulate any data that anonymous users might have contributed to the system.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in security design. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to content management capabilities that should be restricted to authenticated administrators or authorized content creators. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique, specifically involving the modification of system data through unauthorized access to content management functions.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement the available patch released by eZ publish on June 8, 2005, which corrects the permission validation logic. Additional mitigations include implementing proper access controls, regularly auditing user permissions, and monitoring content modification activities for unauthorized changes. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level controls to restrict access to content management interfaces and establish automated monitoring for suspicious data modification patterns. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper permission model design and the necessity of thorough security testing for content management systems that handle user-generated content.