CVE-2007-4529 in TeamSpeak
Summary
by MITRE
The WebAdmin interface in TeamSpeak Server 2.0.20.1 allows remote authenticated users with the ServerAdmin flag to assign Registered users certain privileges, resulting in a privilege set that extends beyond that ServerAdmin s own servers, as demonstrated by the (1) AdminAddServer, (2) AdminDeleteServer, (3) AdminStartServer, and (4) AdminStopServer privileges; and administration of arbitrary virtual servers via a request to a .tscmd URI with a modified serverid parameter, as demonstrated by (a) add_server.tscmd, (b) ask_delete_server.tscmd, (c) start_server.tscmd, and (d) stop_server.tscmd.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4529 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the TeamSpeak Server 2.0.20.1 WebAdmin interface that fundamentally undermines the security model of the application. This issue affects the server administration system where authenticated users with the ServerAdmin flag can manipulate privileges in ways that exceed their intended scope, creating a dangerous escalation path that allows unauthorized access to administrative functions across multiple virtual servers. The vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms that fail to enforce proper boundary checks when processing administrative commands, enabling attackers to execute operations that should be restricted to specific server contexts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the lack of proper parameter validation and privilege verification within the TeamSpeak server's WebAdmin interface. When authenticated users with ServerAdmin privileges attempt to perform administrative actions through the .tscmd URI endpoints, the system fails to properly validate whether the requested operations are authorized for the specific server context. This allows attackers to modify the serverid parameter in requests such as add_server.tscmd, ask_delete_server.tscmd, start_server.tscmd, and stop_server.tscmd to target arbitrary virtual servers beyond their own administrative scope. The flaw exists in the server's privilege management system where the ServerAdmin flag does not properly restrict the scope of administrative operations to only the servers for which the user has legitimate access rights.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables attackers to gain complete control over any virtual server within the TeamSpeak infrastructure. This includes the ability to create new servers, delete existing servers, start and stop server instances, and effectively administer any virtual server regardless of the original administrative boundaries. Such capabilities provide attackers with extensive control over the entire TeamSpeak deployment, potentially leading to service disruption, data loss, and unauthorized access to communications. The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to bypass the intended security model of the application, where administrative privileges should be scoped to specific servers or server groups rather than being elevated to global administrative access across all virtual servers.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and represents a classic case of privilege escalation through inadequate input validation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique where an adversary leverages existing access to elevate their capabilities within a system. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input sanitization and lacks proper authorization checks that should validate both the user's credentials and their scope of operations before executing administrative commands. Organizations using TeamSpeak Server 2.0.20.1 are particularly vulnerable as this issue affects the core administrative interface that handles critical system operations. The flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege, where the system fails to enforce proper access boundaries that should prevent users from performing administrative actions beyond their designated scope. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the TeamSpeak server software, implementation of network segmentation to restrict access to the WebAdmin interface, and careful review of user permissions to ensure that administrative privileges are properly scoped. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous administrative activities and establish proper access control policies that limit the scope of administrative operations within the TeamSpeak environment.