CVE-2009-0022 in Samba
Summary
by MITRE
Samba 3.2.0 through 3.2.6, when registry shares are enabled, allows remote authenticated users to access the root filesystem via a crafted connection request that specifies a blank share name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/23/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-0022 represents a critical access control flaw within the Samba file sharing implementation that affects versions 3.2.0 through 3.2.6. This issue specifically manifests when registry shares are enabled, creating a path for authenticated remote attackers to bypass normal filesystem access controls and gain unauthorized access to the root filesystem. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of share names in connection requests, allowing malicious actors to exploit a weakness in the authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern Samba's file sharing operations.
The technical flaw occurs when a crafted connection request is made with a blank share name parameter, which the vulnerable Samba versions fail to properly validate or reject. This allows authenticated users to manipulate the connection process and potentially access filesystem resources that should be restricted. The vulnerability specifically targets the registry share functionality within Samba, which provides a mechanism for storing configuration data and maintaining system state information. When a blank share name is provided, the system's internal handling of this parameter fails to properly enforce access controls, creating a path to the root filesystem that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations relying on Samba for file sharing services. Remote authenticated attackers who can establish a connection to the Samba server can leverage this flaw to access sensitive system files, configuration data, and potentially execute arbitrary commands on the underlying system. The ability to access the root filesystem represents a complete compromise of the system's integrity and confidentiality, as attackers can read critical system files, modify configuration parameters, and potentially establish persistent access to the compromised system. This vulnerability effectively undermines the fundamental security model of Samba's access control mechanisms and could lead to complete system takeover.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including upgrading to Samba versions 3.2.7 or later where this issue has been patched, disabling registry shares if they are not required for operations, and implementing network segmentation to limit access to Samba services. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which describes improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in system security. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and could enable initial access to systems through the exploitation of weak authentication mechanisms. Security administrators should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual connection patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as well as conducting comprehensive security assessments to identify any potential unauthorized access that may have already occurred.