CVE-2007-2637 in MoinMoin
Summary
by MITRE
MoinMoin before 20070507 does not properly enforce ACLs for calendars and includes, which allows remote attackers to read certain pages via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2637 affects MoinMoin wiki software versions prior to 20070507, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the system's security model. This issue specifically targets the application's ability to enforce Access Control Lists for calendar and include functionality, creating a pathway for unauthorized information disclosure. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that fail to properly restrict access to sensitive wiki pages, allowing remote attackers to bypass intended security controls through unspecified attack vectors.
The technical implementation flaw lies within the wiki's permission handling system where calendar and include features do not properly integrate with the existing ACL framework. This misconfiguration creates a gap in the security model where authenticated users may access pages that should be restricted based on their permissions, while unauthenticated users can potentially gain access to protected content through these weakened access points. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the inherent trust model of the wiki system to execute unauthorized data retrieval operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly impacts organizations relying on MoinMoin for collaborative documentation and knowledge management. Attackers can exploit this flaw to access confidential information stored in calendar entries and included pages, potentially exposing sensitive business data, personal information, or proprietary content. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple attack paths may exist, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as defenders cannot easily predict or isolate all possible exploitation methods. This weakness can lead to data breaches, compliance violations, and reputational damage for affected organizations.
The security implications extend beyond immediate information disclosure to encompass potential escalation opportunities within the wiki environment. Attackers may use this vulnerability as a foothold for further reconnaissance or to identify additional system weaknesses. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader security frameworks, particularly when evaluating the effectiveness of their access control mechanisms and the overall security posture of wiki-based collaboration systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and information gathering.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected MoinMoin installations to version 20070507 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for ACL enforcement. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and conduct thorough security assessments of their wiki configurations. Network segmentation and firewall rules can provide additional layers of protection, while regular security audits should verify that access control lists are properly configured for all wiki features. Administrators should review and test ACL configurations to ensure that calendar and include functionality properly enforces user permissions and that no unauthorized access paths exist within the system.