CVE-2010-2944 in zope-ldapuserfolder
Summary
by MITRE
The authenticate function in LDAPUserFolder/LDAPUserFolder.py in zope-ldapuserfolder 2.9-1 does not verify the password for the emergency account, which allows remote attackers to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-2944 represents a critical authentication flaw within the zope-ldapuserfolder component version 2.9-1, specifically affecting the LDAPUserFolder.py module. This issue resides in the authenticate function where the emergency account password verification mechanism fails to properly validate credentials, creating a significant security weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to escalate privileges. The flaw directly impacts the integrity of the authentication system by allowing unauthorized access through a backdoor mechanism that should remain strictly protected.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and authentication flow control within the LDAPUserFolder authentication module. When an emergency account is configured, the system should enforce rigorous password verification procedures to prevent unauthorized access. However, the authenticate function in this particular version fails to execute proper password validation checks for emergency accounts, effectively bypassing the intended security controls. This weakness operates at the application layer and can be exploited through network-based attacks without requiring physical access or elevated privileges. The vulnerability manifests as a failure in the authentication process where legitimate credential verification is skipped or inadequately enforced for emergency account scenarios, creating a persistent access vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-2944 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential full system compromise and data breaches. Remote attackers who exploit this vulnerability can gain administrative privileges and execute arbitrary commands within the affected system, potentially leading to complete system takeover. The emergency account, which should serve as a recovery mechanism for legitimate administrators, becomes a security risk when the password verification fails. This vulnerability affects systems that rely on zope-ldapuserfolder for authentication management, particularly those implementing LDAP-based user directories where emergency accounts are configured for system recovery purposes. The consequences include unauthorized data access, modification of critical system configurations, and potential exfiltration of sensitive information.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the affected zope-ldapuserfolder component to version 2.9-2 or later, which contains the necessary authentication verification fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to authentication systems and employ strict access controls for emergency accounts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by disabling emergency accounts when not actively needed and implementing multi-factor authentication for any administrative access points. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual authentication patterns and unauthorized access attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering, as attackers can exploit this flaw to gain persistent access through legitimate administrative mechanisms. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify all instances of this vulnerable component and ensure proper configuration of authentication mechanisms to prevent similar issues in other applications.