CVE-2007-2448 in Subversion
Summary
by MITRE
Subversion 1.4.3 and earlier does not properly implement the "partial access" privilege for users who have access to changed paths but not copied paths, which allows remote authenticated users to obtain sensitive information (revision properties) via svn (1) propget, (2) proplist, or (3) propedit.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-2448 affects Apache Subversion versions 1.4.3 and earlier, specifically targeting the implementation of access control mechanisms within the version control system. This issue represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that undermines the security model designed to protect sensitive revision properties within Subversion repositories. The flaw lies in how the system handles partial access privileges, particularly when distinguishing between changed paths and copied paths within repository operations.
Subversion's access control system is designed to grant users specific permissions based on their role and the paths they are authorized to access within a repository. The vulnerability manifests when users possess access to changed paths but not to copied paths, yet the system fails to properly enforce these distinctions. This improper implementation allows authenticated users to bypass expected access controls and obtain sensitive information through three specific svn commands: propget, proplist, and propedit. These commands are fundamental to Subversion's property management functionality, where propget retrieves properties from specific paths, proplist lists properties available at a given path, and propedit enables property modification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote authenticated attackers to access revision properties that should be restricted to authorized users. Revision properties in Subversion contain metadata about changes, including author information, timestamps, and other sensitive details that may reveal system configuration, user activities, or business-sensitive information. The vulnerability specifically affects the privilege model where users might have access to modified content but not to copied content, creating a gap in the access control enforcement that malicious actors can exploit. This weakness particularly impacts organizations that rely on Subversion for code management and where different teams or individuals require varying levels of access to repository content.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a classic example of insufficient privilege checking within a version control system. The issue demonstrates how complex access control mechanisms can be undermined by subtle implementation flaws, particularly when dealing with path-based permissions and the distinction between different types of repository operations. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gather intelligence about repository structure, user activities, and potentially sensitive metadata that could aid in further attacks against the development environment. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through access control weaknesses, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactic.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Subversion versions 1.4.4 or later where this vulnerability has been addressed, implementing network segmentation to limit access to Subversion servers, and conducting thorough access control reviews to ensure proper privilege assignment. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual propget, proplist, and propedit operations that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of version control systems should include checks for similar access control vulnerabilities, and administrative procedures should be established to regularly audit user permissions and repository access patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control enforcement in distributed systems where multiple users interact with shared resources.