CVE-2006-7114 in P-News
Summary
by MITRE
P-News 2.0 stores db/user.txt under the web document root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information such as usernames and password hashes via a direct request. NOTE: this might be the same issue as CVE-2006-6888.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-7114 affects P-News 2.0, a news management system that suffers from inadequate access control mechanisms within its file structure. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that directly impacts the confidentiality and integrity of user authentication data. The vulnerability stems from the improper placement of the db/user.txt file within the web document root directory, creating an accessible entry point for malicious actors seeking unauthorized information disclosure. The system fails to implement proper authorization checks, allowing any remote attacker to directly request this file through standard web protocols without authentication requirements.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the web server's directory structure configuration where sensitive user credential files are stored in publicly accessible locations. The db/user.txt file contains usernames and password hashes that are typically stored in a format suitable for authentication purposes, making this information particularly valuable to attackers. This misconfiguration creates a direct path for information disclosure attacks where remote adversaries can simply append the file path to their web requests to retrieve the entire user database. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and can be exploited using standard HTTP requests, making it particularly dangerous due to its simplicity and effectiveness. This issue falls under the category of improper access control as defined by CWE-284, which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential account compromise and system infiltration. When attackers obtain password hashes, they can attempt various cracking techniques including dictionary attacks, brute force methods, or rainbow table lookups to recover plaintext passwords. The exposure of usernames combined with password hashes creates a complete authentication database that significantly weakens the overall security posture of the affected system. This vulnerability directly enables credential stuffing attacks where compromised credentials can be used across multiple systems, potentially leading to unauthorized administrative access and further compromise of the network infrastructure. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects the fundamental authentication mechanism of the application, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and gain persistent access to the system.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly focusing on credential access and privilege escalation techniques. Attackers can leverage this weakness as an initial access vector to gather intelligence before launching more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability also relates to the information gathering phase where adversaries collect system information to plan further operations. Organizations affected by this issue should implement immediate mitigations including proper file access control, directory structure reorganization, and implementation of web server configuration rules that prevent direct access to sensitive database files. The recommended remediation involves moving sensitive files outside the web document root, implementing proper access controls through web server configuration, and ensuring that authentication data is stored in secure locations with appropriate file permissions. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper secure coding practices and the necessity of conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate such configuration flaws that can lead to complete system compromise.