CVE-2006-5199 in Server
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Contribute Publishing Server leaks the administrator password in logs that are created during product installation, which allows local users to gain privileges to the server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2026
Adobe Contribute Publishing Server version 1.0 contains a critical security flaw where the installation process generates log files that inadvertently expose the administrator password in plain text format. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization during the installation routine, allowing malicious local users to access sensitive authentication credentials through log file analysis. The flaw represents a classic case of insecure logging practices where sensitive information is written to disk without proper encryption or obfuscation mechanisms. According to CWE-532, this vulnerability falls under the category of information exposure through log files, which is a well-documented weakness in software security practices. The security implications are significant as local users who can access these log files can escalate their privileges to administrative level access, bypassing normal authentication mechanisms and potentially compromising the entire server infrastructure.
The technical execution of this vulnerability requires local system access and knowledge of the installation directory structure where log files are stored. During the installation process, the system creates multiple log files that contain the administrative password in clear text format, making it trivial for any local user with read access to these files to extract and utilize the credentials. This represents a fundamental failure in privilege separation and secure configuration management. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation tactic. The vulnerability exists because the installation script does not properly implement secure logging practices, failing to recognize that certain information should be treated as sensitive and protected from unauthorized access. The flaw demonstrates poor input sanitization and output handling, where authentication credentials are treated as regular text data rather than confidential information requiring special protection measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it creates a persistent security risk that remains active until the affected system is properly patched or the log files are manually removed. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized administrative access to the Contribute Publishing Server, potentially leading to data exfiltration, service disruption, or further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects all systems running the affected version of Adobe Contribute Publishing Server and poses a significant risk to organizations that have not implemented proper access controls or monitoring of installation directories. Organizations with poor security hygiene are particularly vulnerable as they may not regularly audit their system logs or implement proper file permissions that would prevent unauthorized access to installation artifacts. This vulnerability directly contradicts security best practices outlined in ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST SP 800-53, which emphasize the importance of protecting sensitive information throughout the system lifecycle and implementing proper access controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the affected software to the latest version that addresses the insecure logging behavior, proper file permission configuration to restrict access to installation log files, and implementation of regular security audits to identify and remove sensitive information from system logs. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect unauthorized access attempts to installation directories and log files containing sensitive information. The recommended remediation approach involves configuring the system to either encrypt log file contents or to implement proper log sanitization processes that remove or obfuscate sensitive data before writing to persistent storage. Additionally, organizations should establish security policies that require regular review of system logs and implementation of automated tools to detect and alert on potential information disclosure vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper input/output handling in all software development processes, particularly when dealing with authentication credentials and sensitive system information.