CVE-2012-4404 in MoinMoin
Summary
by MITRE
security/__init__.py in MoinMoin 1.9 through 1.9.4 does not properly handle group names that contain virtual group names such as "All," "Known," or "Trusted," which allows remote authenticated users with virtual group membership to be treated as a member of the group.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-4404 affects MoinMoin versions 1.9 through 1.9.4 and resides within the security module's initialization file. This flaw represents a critical access control bypass that stems from improper handling of group name resolution within the authentication system. The vulnerability specifically targets virtual group names including "All," "Known," and "Trusted" which are reserved identifiers in MoinMoin's security framework. These virtual groups typically represent predefined user categories that should have specific access permissions and membership rules. When the security module processes group names containing these virtual group identifiers, it fails to properly distinguish between actual group names and virtual group placeholders, creating a scenario where legitimate group membership checks become compromised.
The technical implementation flaw occurs in the security/_init_.py file where the system does not adequately validate or sanitize group names before processing them in access control decisions. This allows authenticated users who might be members of virtual groups to potentially manipulate their group memberships through crafted group name inputs. The vulnerability operates at the authentication and authorization layer, specifically targeting the group membership resolution mechanism that determines user permissions. According to CWE-284, this represents an improper access control vulnerability where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions. The flaw essentially creates a condition where the system's group membership logic becomes susceptible to manipulation by authenticated users who can exploit the improper name handling to gain unauthorized access privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables authenticated attackers to escalate their privileges within the MoinMoin wiki system. Remote authenticated users who can influence their group memberships through the vulnerable code path can effectively bypass normal access controls and gain elevated permissions. This could allow attackers to access restricted content, modify protected pages, or perform administrative actions depending on the virtual group they are attempting to impersonate. The vulnerability affects the core security model of the wiki system, potentially allowing lateral movement within the platform and access to sensitive information. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques where attackers leverage insecure authentication mechanisms to gain higher-level access rights. The impact extends beyond simple access control bypass as it undermines the fundamental trust model of the wiki's permission system, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4404 should focus on immediate patching of the affected MoinMoin versions to 1.9.5 or later, where the group name handling logic has been properly corrected. Administrators should also implement strict input validation for group names in the security configuration, ensuring that virtual group identifiers are properly sanitized and cannot be used as part of user-defined group names. Additional defensive measures include monitoring authentication logs for unusual group membership patterns and implementing role-based access controls that limit the impact of potential exploitation. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary virtual group memberships for users who do not require them and regularly audit access control configurations to ensure proper enforcement of security policies. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and secure coding practices in authentication systems, particularly when handling reserved identifiers and predefined security constructs.