CVE-2006-1207 in PHP Upload Center
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Upload Center stores password hashes under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download each password hash via a direct request for the upload/users/[USERNAME] file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1207 represents a critical security flaw in the PHP Upload Center web application that exposes password hashes to unauthorized users through improper access control mechanisms. This issue stems from the application's failure to implement proper directory permissions and access restrictions, allowing remote attackers to directly access sensitive authentication data by simply requesting specific file paths within the web root directory structure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's storage of password hash files in a location that is directly accessible through the web server without proper authentication checks. When users register within the PHP Upload Center system, their password hashes are stored in the upload/users/ directory with insufficient file permissions that allow public access. This design flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, as the application fails to implement proper authorization checks before serving sensitive user authentication data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for system administrators and end users alike, as the exposure of password hashes enables attackers to perform offline password cracking attacks using various techniques including dictionary attacks, brute force methods, and rainbow table lookups. The impact extends beyond individual user accounts to potentially compromise entire systems if users reuse passwords across multiple services, creating cascading security failures throughout organizational networks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and represents a classic example of inadequate file system permissions that violates security best practices.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers with basic web browsing capabilities. Remote attackers can systematically enumerate user accounts and obtain password hashes for each user, potentially leading to account takeovers and unauthorized system access. This vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers legitimate credentials gained through default credentials or weak password exposure, demonstrating how this flaw enables adversaries to establish persistent access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper directory permissions that prevent direct web access to sensitive files, ensuring that password hash storage locations are protected through proper access control mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should implement proper authentication checks before serving any user-related data, and consider moving password hash storage outside of the web root entirely. The solution should also incorporate proper input validation and access control enforcement to prevent unauthorized file access attempts. Security configurations must be reviewed regularly to ensure that no sensitive data is inadvertently exposed through improper file permissions or directory access controls, as this vulnerability demonstrates how simple misconfigurations can lead to severe security compromises. Organizations should also implement monitoring and alerting mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive directories and files, providing additional layers of defense against exploitation of similar access control flaws.