CVE-2006-6286 in Desktop Software
Summary
by MITRE
Palm Desktop 4.1.4 and earlier stores user data with weak permissions under the application directory, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information (address books, calendar files, and todo lists of other users) via unspecified vectors. NOTE: The provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2018
This vulnerability affects Palm Desktop version 4.1.4 and earlier installations where user data files are stored with insufficient file system permissions. The flaw represents a classic privilege escalation issue that allows local attackers to access sensitive information belonging to other users on the same system. The weak permissions model enables unauthorized data exposure through unspecified vectors that could include direct file system access, process injection, or privilege escalation techniques. The affected data types include address books, calendar files, and todo lists, which collectively represent highly sensitive personal and organizational information that could be exploited for identity theft, social engineering, or corporate espionage.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the Palm Desktop application directory structure. When user data is stored with default permissions, it creates an attack surface where local users can access files that should remain private and protected. This weakness aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper file permissions, and represents a fundamental failure in the principle of least privilege. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security design practices where the application does not properly enforce access controls between different user contexts, allowing cross-user data leakage through inadequate file system permission settings.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. An attacker with local access can gather comprehensive personal information including contact details, scheduling data, and task lists that could be used for targeted attacks or to build detailed profiles of individuals. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths may exist, potentially including both manual file system enumeration and automated exploitation techniques. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where multiple users share a single system or where users have administrative access to the system's file structure. The implications are significant for corporate environments where Palm Desktop might be used for managing sensitive business information or personal data of employees and clients.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper file system permissions and access controls for all user data stored by Palm Desktop. System administrators should ensure that user data files are stored with restrictive permissions that prevent unauthorized access from other user accounts. The recommended approach involves setting appropriate discretionary access control lists that limit file access to the specific user account that owns the data. Additionally, the application should be updated to version 4.1.5 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper permission enforcement. Security monitoring should include periodic checks for weak file permissions and unauthorized access attempts to user data files. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect weak permissions across file systems and alert administrators to potential security issues. The solution aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005, which covers data from local system, and emphasizes the importance of proper access control implementation to prevent unauthorized data access through weak file permissions.