CVE-2008-2402 in Java Active Server Pages
Summary
by MITRE
The Admin Server in Sun Java Active Server Pages (ASP) Server before 4.0.3 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to read password hashes and configuration data via direct requests for unspecified documents.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-2402 affects the Sun Java Active Server Pages (ASP) Server version 4.0.2 and earlier, specifically within its Admin Server component. This issue represents a critical security flaw that stems from improper access control mechanisms and insecure storage practices. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to directly access sensitive configuration data and password hashes by making unauthorized requests to specific documents within the web root directory.
The technical flaw manifests from the improper placement of sensitive administrative files within the web server's document root directory structure. This configuration violates fundamental security principles by exposing privileged information to unauthenticated users who can access these files through standard HTTP requests. The vulnerability exists because the system fails to implement proper access controls or authentication mechanisms to restrict access to administrative resources. The affected files contain password hashes and configuration data that should only be accessible to authorized administrators, but are instead available to any remote attacker who can guess or discover the appropriate file paths.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe risk to system security and data integrity. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can obtain password hashes which can then be subjected to offline password cracking attacks using tools like john the ripper or hashcat. The configuration data access provides attackers with valuable information about the server setup, potentially revealing network configurations, user accounts, and other sensitive system parameters. This information can be leveraged to plan more sophisticated attacks, escalate privileges, or conduct further reconnaissance activities. The vulnerability essentially provides an attacker with a foothold that could lead to complete system compromise, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the ASP server manages critical applications or sensitive data.
The vulnerability aligns with several common weakness enumerations including CWE-200, which describes improper exposure of sensitive information, and CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access controls. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the attack technique T1213 in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically involving data from information repositories. The issue also relates to T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which involves credential harvesting through various attack vectors. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including moving sensitive administrative files outside the web root directory, implementing proper access controls through authentication mechanisms, and ensuring that administrative interfaces are protected by strong authentication protocols. Regular security audits and proper file permission configurations should be enforced to prevent similar issues in the future. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and proper system architecture design principles that prevent sensitive data from being exposed to unauthorized users through default configurations or insecure file placement strategies.