CVE-2014-2870 in Commonspot Content Server
Summary
by MITRE
The default configuration of PaperThin CommonSpot before 7.0.2 and 8.x before 8.0.3 uses cleartext for storage of credentials in a database, which makes it easier for context-dependent attackers to obtain sensitive information via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2870 represents a critical security flaw in the PaperThin CommonSpot content management system where credentials are stored in cleartext within the database. This configuration issue affects versions prior to 7.0.2 and 8.x versions before 8.0.3, creating a significant exposure that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The flaw stems from the system's default settings that fail to implement proper encryption or hashing mechanisms for credential storage, leaving authentication data vulnerable to direct inspection by malicious actors with database access privileges.
This vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-312, which specifically addresses cleartext storage of sensitive data, making it particularly dangerous as it provides attackers with immediate access to authentication credentials without requiring additional exploitation techniques. The context-dependent nature of this vulnerability means that attackers must have some level of access to the database or system infrastructure to exploit it, but once obtained, the cleartext credentials can be used to authenticate as legitimate users and potentially escalate privileges within the system. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple attack paths may exist, including direct database access, insider threats, or compromised system accounts that could provide access to the underlying database storage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as compromised authentication information can enable attackers to perform unauthorized actions within the CommonSpot environment, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers with access to the database can directly extract user credentials, administrative accounts, and potentially other sensitive information stored in the same database structure. This creates a cascading security risk where a single compromised credential can provide access to multiple system functions and data repositories that rely on the same authentication infrastructure. The vulnerability essentially undermines the fundamental security principle of credential protection and can result in data breaches, unauthorized content modification, and potential system takeover.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the patched versions 7.0.2 and 8.0.3, which address the cleartext storage issue through proper encryption implementation. System administrators should also conduct thorough security audits to identify any existing compromised credentials that may have been exposed due to this vulnerability, implementing credential rotation procedures for all affected accounts. The remediation process should include database configuration reviews to ensure that no other sensitive information is stored in cleartext format, and security policies should be updated to enforce proper credential handling practices. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit database access to only authorized personnel and systems, reducing the attack surface available to potential adversaries attempting to exploit this vulnerability through the ATT&CK framework's initial access and credential access phases.