CVE-2006-4247 in Plone
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the Password Reset Tool before 0.4.1 on Plone 2.5 and 2.5.1 Release Candidate allows attackers to reset the passwords of other users, related to "an erroneous security declaration."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-4247 represents a critical security flaw within the Password Reset Tool component of Plone content management systems version 2.5 and 2.5.1 Release Candidate. This issue stems from an erroneous security declaration that fundamentally undermines the authentication and authorization mechanisms designed to protect user accounts. The vulnerability specifically affects the password reset functionality, which is a core component of any web application's security infrastructure. When a security declaration is erroneous, it typically means that the system incorrectly grants or denies access permissions, creating potential attack vectors that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests in how the password reset tool handles user authentication and authorization during the reset process. In properly secured systems, password reset functionality should require explicit verification of user identity through multiple factors including but not limited to email confirmation, security questions, or session-based authentication. The erroneous security declaration in this case likely fails to properly validate user permissions or authenticate the identity of individuals attempting to reset passwords for other users. This misconfiguration creates a privilege escalation scenario where unauthorized users can manipulate the system to reset passwords for accounts they do not own, effectively compromising the entire user authentication framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple account compromise, as it fundamentally breaches the principle of least privilege and user isolation that security-conscious applications must maintain. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to other users' accounts, potentially leading to data breaches, content manipulation, or further exploitation of the compromised accounts. The implications are particularly severe in environments where Plone systems host sensitive information or serve as platforms for collaborative workspaces where user isolation is critical. This vulnerability effectively neutralizes the password reset feature as a security control, transforming it from a legitimate recovery mechanism into a tool for unauthorized account takeover.
The vulnerability aligns with several common security weaknesses documented in the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) catalog, particularly those related to improper authorization and security misconfigurations. This flaw demonstrates the critical importance of proper security declarations and access control mechanisms within web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, specifically targeting the credential recovery processes that organizations rely upon for legitimate user account management. Organizations implementing Plone systems must recognize that this vulnerability creates a persistent security risk that can be exploited repeatedly until properly patched, making it a high-priority remediation item.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of the official patch released by the Plone development team for versions 2.5 and 2.5.1 Release Candidate. System administrators should verify that all instances of the Password Reset Tool have been updated to version 0.4.1 or later, ensuring that the erroneous security declaration has been corrected. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits of their Plone installations to identify any other components that may be affected by similar security misconfigurations. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the password reset functionality to confirm that proper authentication and authorization checks are now in place. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual password reset activities that could indicate exploitation attempts, as well as establish proper incident response procedures to address potential compromise scenarios.