CVE-2006-1829 in EAServer
Summary
by MITRE
EAServer Manager in Sybase EAServer 5.2 and 5.3 allows remote authenticated users, possibly guests, to obtain password credentials of arbitrary users via unspecified vectors involving (1) connection caches, (2) open password prompts, and (3) stored custom connection profiles.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1829 represents a critical authentication and credential exposure flaw within Sybase EAServer Manager version 5.2 and 5.3. This issue affects the enterprise application server platform that was widely used for deploying and managing business applications in corporate environments. The vulnerability specifically targets the EAServer Manager component which serves as the administrative interface for configuring and managing server connections and user access. The flaw allows remote authenticated users to extract password credentials for arbitrary users, potentially enabling privilege escalation and unauthorized access to sensitive system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves three distinct attack vectors that collectively enable credential theft. First, connection caches within the EAServer Manager can be exploited to retrieve stored authentication information from memory or temporary storage locations where connection credentials are cached for performance optimization. Second, open password prompts that remain accessible during the connection process can be manipulated to capture credential information before or during authentication attempts. Third, stored custom connection profiles that contain user credentials are vulnerable to unauthorized access, allowing attackers to extract stored passwords that are used for connecting to backend databases or other systems. These vectors work in conjunction to create a comprehensive attack surface for credential harvesting.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass significant security risks for enterprise environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain access to user accounts with elevated privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The ability to obtain arbitrary user credentials means that attackers can impersonate legitimate users, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, or escalate privileges to administrative levels. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations using Sybase EAServer in mission-critical applications where database access and system integrity are paramount. The remote nature of the attack means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability from outside the corporate network, making it particularly dangerous for organizations with limited network segmentation.
From a cybersecurity framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-255 Credentials Management and CWE-312 Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information categories. The flaw demonstrates poor security implementation practices in credential handling and storage mechanisms within the EAServer Manager. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under credential access techniques, specifically targeting the T1550.001 technique for use of stolen credentials and T1550.002 for exploitation of legitimate credentials. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including disabling unnecessary connection caching features, implementing proper credential encryption, and restricting access to the EAServer Manager interface. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and patch management processes to identify and remediate similar credential exposure flaws in enterprise application servers.