CVE-2007-6722 in Vidalia bundle
Summary
by MITRE
Vidalia bundle before 0.1.2.18, when running on Windows and Mac OS X, installs Privoxy with a configuration file (config.txt or config) that contains insecure (1) enable-remote-toggle and (2) enable-edit-actions settings, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and modify configuration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-6722 affects the Vidalia bundle version 0.1.2.18 and earlier, specifically on Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. This issue stems from the insecure default configuration of Privoxy proxy software that is bundled with Vidalia. The vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the intended access controls of the proxy configuration, potentially allowing unauthorized remote attackers to gain administrative privileges over the proxy settings. The problem manifests through two specific insecure configuration parameters that are enabled by default in the Privoxy configuration files used by Vidalia.
The technical flaw resides in the default Privoxy configuration file which contains two dangerous settings: enable-remote-toggle and enable-edit-actions. These settings, when enabled, permit remote attackers to modify the proxy configuration without proper authentication. The enable-remote-toggle parameter specifically allows remote users to toggle various proxy features, while enable-edit-actions permits modification of action files that control proxy behavior. This configuration creates a backdoor that bypasses the intended access restrictions, effectively granting remote attackers the ability to alter proxy settings, potentially redirecting traffic or disabling security features. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the bundled software rather than requiring additional exploitation steps, making it readily available to attackers who can remotely access the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for users of the Vidalia bundle, as it provides remote attackers with unauthorized access to modify proxy configurations that are typically protected by access controls. This could lead to man-in-the-middle attacks, traffic redirection, or complete compromise of the proxy's security posture. Attackers could potentially disable security features, redirect traffic through malicious proxies, or modify content filtering rules. The vulnerability affects users who rely on Vidalia for Tor network management and proxy configuration, making it particularly dangerous for those who depend on the software for privacy and security purposes. The impact extends beyond simple configuration changes, as the compromised proxy could become a vector for more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate configuration changes to disable the problematic settings in Privoxy. System administrators should modify the config.txt or config file to remove or comment out the enable-remote-toggle and enable-edit-actions directives. The recommended approach involves setting these parameters to off or false to prevent remote access to proxy configuration modifications. Additionally, users should upgrade to Vidalia bundle version 0.1.2.18 or later, which addresses this specific vulnerability. Organizations should implement regular security audits to verify that proxy configurations have not been tampered with and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized configuration changes. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses insecure default permissions, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in system security design. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a configuration modification technique that allows adversaries to establish persistence and maintain access to network resources through unauthorized changes to proxy configurations.