CVE-2013-5572 in Zabbix
Summary
by MITRE
Zabbix 2.0.5 allows remote authenticated users to discover the LDAP bind password by leveraging management-console access and reading the ldap_bind_password value in the HTML source code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-5572 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Zabbix monitoring software version 2.0.5. This issue stems from improper handling of sensitive configuration data within the web interface, specifically exposing authentication credentials through the HTML source code of management console pages. The vulnerability affects organizations that rely on Zabbix for system monitoring and security management, where LDAP integration is configured for user authentication purposes.
The technical flaw manifests when authenticated users with management-console access attempt to view the HTML source code of specific administrative pages. The system fails to properly sanitize or obfuscate the ldap_bind_password parameter, which contains the actual LDAP bind password used for authentication against directory services. This configuration value is directly rendered in the web interface source code, making it accessible to any authenticated user who possesses management privileges. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only basic management console access rather than elevated privileges, making it exploitable by users with relatively low-privilege accounts within the monitoring system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the monitoring system. Organizations using Zabbix with LDAP integration face potential unauthorized access to their directory services, as attackers can leverage the disclosed bind password to authenticate to LDAP servers and potentially escalate privileges within the directory structure. This exposure creates a vector for lateral movement within networks and could enable attackers to access sensitive systems and data that were previously protected by proper authentication controls. The vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and defense in depth, as sensitive authentication credentials are exposed through the user interface without proper access controls.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through software updates to versions that address the information disclosure issue. Organizations must also implement additional access controls and monitoring to detect unauthorized access to management console pages. The principle of least privilege should be enforced more strictly, ensuring that only essential personnel have access to management interfaces. Security configurations should include proper input sanitization and output encoding to prevent sensitive data from being exposed in web interfaces. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, Information Exposure, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1552.001, Credentials in Files, highlighting the importance of proper credential handling and access control measures. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their monitoring systems to identify similar information disclosure vulnerabilities that could compromise their security posture and require immediate attention to prevent exploitation.