CVE-2006-6617 in Project Server
Summary
by MITRE
projectserver/logon/pdsrequest.asp in Microsoft Project Server 2003 allows remote authenticated users to obtain the MSProjectUser password for a SQL database via a GetInitializationData request, which includes the information in the UserName and Password tags of the response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2017
Microsoft Project Server 2003 contains a critical information disclosure vulnerability in the projectserver/logon/pdsrequest.asp component that affects the security posture of organizations relying on this legacy software. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-200 category of Information Disclosure, where sensitive authentication data is inadvertently exposed to authenticated attackers who can leverage the system's legitimate authentication mechanisms to extract database credentials. The flaw specifically manifests when the system processes GetInitializationData requests, which are part of the normal authentication workflow for Project Server's integration with Microsoft Project clients.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the XML response structure used by Project Server's authentication system. When a legitimate authentication request is processed through the pdsrequest.asp component, the system includes database connection parameters within the XML response payload, specifically embedding the MSProjectUser database username and password within UserName and Password tags. This occurs because the authentication service fails to properly sanitize or filter the response content before sending it back to the requesting client, creating a path for credential exposure that bypasses normal security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations running Microsoft Project Server 2003, as it enables authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges and gain access to the underlying SQL database that stores project data and user information. This exposure allows adversaries to potentially access sensitive project data, manipulate database contents, or establish persistence within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access to the Project Server system, meaning that an attacker who has obtained legitimate user credentials can exploit this flaw to obtain additional database credentials without requiring additional attack vectors or elevated privileges.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Microsoft security patches that address this information disclosure vulnerability, restricting access to the projectserver/logon directory through network segmentation, and implementing network monitoring to detect unusual authentication request patterns. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 - Phishing and T1071.1 - Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it involves the exploitation of web-based authentication mechanisms to extract sensitive data. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing database access controls and monitoring for unauthorized database connections, as this vulnerability essentially provides a direct pathway to database credentials that can be used for further attacks within the network infrastructure.