CVE-2006-6891 in Vz Forum
Summary
by MITRE
Vz (Adp) Forum 2.0.3 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain the administrative account name and password hash via a direct request for users/admin.txt.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-6891 affects Vz (Adp) Forum version 2.0.3, representing a critical security flaw in the application's file access control mechanisms. This issue stems from improper configuration of sensitive data storage within the web application's directory structure, creating an exploitable condition that directly compromises administrative credentials. The vulnerability manifests when the application stores administrative account information in a location accessible through standard web requests, specifically the users/admin.txt file that contains both username and password hash information.
The technical flaw resides in the application's insufficient access control implementation, where sensitive files are placed in directories that are directly accessible via web requests without proper authentication or authorization checks. This configuration violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and secure file storage practices. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions and access control mechanisms. The flaw allows attackers to bypass normal authentication procedures by directly requesting the administrative credential file through a simple web request, effectively eliminating the need for any form of legitimate authentication or social engineering attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it provides remote attackers with immediate access to administrative credentials without requiring any specialized tools or techniques beyond basic web browsing capabilities. Once an attacker obtains the password hash from users/admin.txt, they can attempt various cracking methods to recover the plaintext password, potentially gaining full administrative control over the forum. This access enables unauthorized modification of forum content, user management, and system configuration, while also providing a potential foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials usage and privilege escalation through compromised administrative accounts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate remediation of the file storage configuration, ensuring that sensitive files are stored outside the web root directory and are protected by appropriate access controls. Administrators should implement proper file permissions and directory access restrictions to prevent direct web access to credential files. The application should be updated to version 2.0.4 or later, which addresses this specific access control flaw. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for unusual access patterns to sensitive files can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security audits should verify that no sensitive information is stored in publicly accessible directories, and proper input validation should be implemented to prevent path traversal attacks that could potentially expose similar files. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts to add additional security layers beyond password-based authentication.