CVE-2012-5665 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
ownCloud 4.0.x before 4.0.10 and 4.5.x before 4.5.5 does not properly restrict access to settings.php, which allows remote attackers to edit app configurations of user_webdavauth and user_ldap by editing this file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5665 affects ownCloud versions prior to 4.0.10 and 4.5.5, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of the web-based file synchronization and sharing platform. This issue stems from inadequate file permission controls within the application's configuration management system, specifically targeting the settings.php file that governs various authentication and application settings. The vulnerability exposes a fundamental weakness in the application's privilege management model, where remote attackers can exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive configuration parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a lack of proper authentication checks and authorization controls when accessing the settings.php file. In affected versions, the application fails to validate user privileges before allowing modifications to critical configuration parameters, particularly those related to the user_webdavauth and user_ldap authentication modules. This flaw operates under CWE-285 which classifies it as an improper authorization issue, where the system grants access to resources beyond what is authorized for the requesting entity. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate authentication settings without proper credentials, effectively allowing them to modify how users authenticate to the system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations relying on ownCloud for their file sharing and collaboration needs. Attackers who can access the settings.php file can potentially disable or modify authentication mechanisms, redirect user accounts to malicious servers, or completely compromise the authentication infrastructure. The impact extends beyond simple configuration changes, as manipulation of user_ldap and user_webdavauth settings can result in unauthorized access to the entire system, user data breaches, and potential lateral movement within network environments. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through legitimate system access.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be accomplished remotely without requiring specialized tools or extensive knowledge of the underlying system architecture. Attackers simply need to access the vulnerable settings.php file through the web interface and modify the appropriate configuration parameters to achieve their objectives. Organizations with multiple users or those relying heavily on LDAP authentication are particularly at risk since the vulnerability directly impacts the core authentication infrastructure. The long-term implications include potential data loss, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and compromised user trust in the platform's security measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5665 primarily involve immediate patching of affected ownCloud installations to versions 4.0.10 or 4.5.5 where proper access controls have been implemented. System administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of their ownCloud installations to verify that all instances have been updated and that no older versions remain operational. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit access to the ownCloud application, monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes, and establishing robust access logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also review their overall authentication architecture and ensure that proper principle of least privilege controls are in place for all system configuration files. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms, serving as a reminder that configuration management systems require the same security rigor as application code itself.