CVE-2006-2443 in knowledgetree
Summary
by MITRE
The Debian package of knowledgetree 2.0.7 creates environment.php with world-readable permissions, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information such as the username and password for the KnowledgeTree database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-2443 represents a critical misconfiguration issue within the KnowledgeTree content management system version 2.0.7 package distributed through Debian repositories. This flaw stems from improper file permission settings during the installation process, creating a significant security risk that affects system administrators and end users alike. The vulnerability specifically targets the environment.php configuration file that contains essential database credentials and authentication parameters necessary for the application to function properly.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insecure default permissions assigned to the environment.php file during package installation. When the Debian package installer creates this configuration file, it sets permissions that allow world-read access, meaning any local user on the system can read the file contents without authentication. This misconfiguration directly violates the principle of least privilege and creates an information disclosure vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious actors with local system access. The file contains database connection strings including usernames and passwords that are typically stored in plain text format, making them immediately accessible to any user with read permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with direct access to database credentials that can be used for further exploitation. Local users who gain access to the environment.php file can extract the database username and password, potentially enabling them to establish direct database connections and perform unauthorized operations. This could lead to data theft, database manipulation, privilege escalation, or even complete system compromise if the database user has elevated permissions. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad and can be classified under CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource, which specifically addresses situations where critical system resources are given overly permissive access controls.
From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.001: Unsecured Credentials, as it involves the exposure of stored credentials through improper file permissions. The attack surface is relatively narrow since it requires local system access, but the impact is significant for systems where local users might not be fully trusted. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper privilege management and the need for security-conscious default configurations in software packages. The issue is particularly concerning in multi-user environments where users may have varying levels of access and trust relationships.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability involve immediate manual intervention by system administrators to correct the file permissions on the environment.php file, ensuring that only the appropriate system user or group can read the file contents. Additionally, the Debian package maintainers should update the package installation scripts to set proper file permissions during the installation process. Organizations should implement regular security audits to identify similar misconfigurations across their systems and establish automated monitoring for file permission changes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of security testing during software packaging and deployment processes, as well as the need for comprehensive security awareness training for system administrators and developers.