CVE-2006-0213 in Server
Summary
by MITRE
Kolab Server 2.0.1, 2.0.2 and development versions pre-2.1-20051215 and earlier, when authenticating users via secure SMTP, stores authentication credentials in plaintext in the postfix.log file, which allows local users to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0213 represents a critical security flaw in Kolab Server versions 2.0.1 through 2.0.2 and development versions prior to 2.1-20051215. This issue specifically manifests during secure SMTP authentication processes where the system fails to properly protect sensitive user credentials. The flaw creates a dangerous situation where authentication data is persistently stored in plaintext format within the postfix.log file, exposing the system to significant security risks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper credential handling within the Kolab Server's authentication subsystem. When users authenticate via secure SMTP, the system processes their credentials but fails to encrypt or obfuscate them before logging. This plaintext storage in postfix.log creates an easily accessible repository of authentication information that can be read by any local user with sufficient privileges. The flaw directly violates security best practices for credential management and demonstrates a lack of proper input sanitization and output protection mechanisms.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables local privilege escalation attacks where malicious users can exploit the plaintext credential storage to gain unauthorized access to accounts. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, as local users already have access to the system's log files. This creates a scenario where any user with local access can potentially escalate their privileges to administrative levels or gain access to other users' accounts. The vulnerability essentially provides an open door for lateral movement within the network and can facilitate more extensive compromise operations.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several common weakness enumerations including CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper logging, and CWE-255, which covers issues related to credential management. This flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which describes legitimate credentials used for persistence and privilege escalation. Organizations running affected Kolab Server versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and data breaches, particularly in environments where local user access is not strictly controlled. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper logging practices and credential protection mechanisms in preventing privilege escalation attacks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to the latest stable versions of Kolab Server where this vulnerability has been addressed. Administrators should also implement strict file system permissions on log directories to limit access to authorized personnel only, though this represents a temporary workaround rather than a permanent solution. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive audits of their authentication systems to identify any other instances of plaintext credential storage, as this vulnerability highlights the importance of proper credential handling across all system components. The incident underscores the necessity of implementing robust logging security measures and regular security assessments to prevent similar flaws in authentication infrastructure.