CVE-2007-0977 in Lotus Domino
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Lotus Domino R5 and R6 WebMail, with "Generate HTML for all fields" enabled, stores HTTPPassword hashes from names.nsf in a manner accessible through Readviewentries and OpenDocument requests to the defaultview view, a different vector than CVE-2005-2428.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-0977 represents a significant security flaw in IBM Lotus Domino R5 and R6 WebMail implementations that directly impacts authentication security mechanisms. This issue specifically affects systems where the "Generate HTML for all fields" configuration option is enabled, creating an unintended exposure of sensitive authentication data through web-based access patterns. The vulnerability operates through the defaultview view within the names.nsf database, which serves as the primary directory service for user authentication information in Lotus Domino environments.
The technical flaw stems from improper access control and data exposure mechanisms within the Lotus Domino WebMail implementation. When the "Generate HTML for all fields" option is enabled, the system generates HTML output that includes HTTPPassword hashes alongside other user directory fields. These hashes are subsequently accessible through standard Readviewentries and OpenDocument requests to the defaultview view, bypassing normal authentication and authorization controls that should protect such sensitive information. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and inadequate access controls, classified under CWE-200 - Information Exposure, where sensitive data is exposed to unauthorized users through improper access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations relying on Lotus Domino for email services and directory management. Attackers can exploit this weakness to obtain HTTPPassword hashes without requiring valid authentication credentials, effectively undermining the entire authentication framework. Once these hashes are obtained, attackers can attempt offline password cracking or use the information for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates through legitimate web service endpoints that are typically expected to be secure and properly authenticated, making detection more difficult and allowing attackers to blend their activities with normal user behavior patterns. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1212 - Exploitation for Credential Access, where adversaries exploit software vulnerabilities to obtain credentials.
The security implications extend beyond simple credential theft to potentially enable broader system compromise. Since HTTPPassword hashes represent the core authentication mechanism for Lotus Domino, their exposure allows attackers to establish persistent access to the mail system and potentially leverage this access for privilege escalation within the broader Domino infrastructure. Organizations using this vulnerable configuration face increased risk of unauthorized access to email communications, directory services, and potentially other Domino applications that rely on the same authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for lateral movement within networks where Domino servers serve as directory services, as attackers can use the compromised credentials to access other systems that trust the Domino directory for authentication purposes. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper configuration management and the principle of least privilege in security implementations, where enabling features that expose sensitive data should be carefully evaluated against the security implications. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the problematic configuration option, implementing additional access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to the affected web services.