CVE-2014-3771 in TeamPass
Summary
by MITRE
TeamPass before 2.1.20 allows remote attackers to bypass access restrictions via the language file path in a (1) request to index.php or (2) "change_user_language" request to sources/main.queries.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2022
TeamPass is a password management solution that enables organizations to securely store and share credentials while maintaining access controls. The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-3771 represents a critical access control flaw that allows remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms through improper input validation in language file handling. This issue affects TeamPass versions prior to 2.1.20 and creates a significant security risk by enabling unauthorized access to sensitive password management functionality.
The technical flaw manifests in the application's handling of language file paths within two specific request types. When attackers submit malicious input through either an index.php request or a change_user_language request to sources/main.queries.php, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize the language parameter. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-22 category of Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as Path Traversal. The flaw occurs because the application directly incorporates user-supplied language parameters into file path resolution without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to access restricted areas of the TeamPass application without proper authentication credentials. This allows unauthorized users to potentially view, modify, or delete sensitive password information stored within the system. The vulnerability affects the core access control mechanisms of the application, undermining the fundamental security model that TeamPass is designed to provide. Attackers could leverage this to gain administrative privileges or access to all user accounts within the password management system.
The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts, and T1566.001 which addresses Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment. Attackers could use this vulnerability to escalate privileges within the password management environment and subsequently target other systems where shared credentials might exist. The attack chain typically involves initial access through a web application vulnerability followed by privilege escalation to gain comprehensive access to the password management infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to TeamPass version 2.1.20 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for language parameter validation. Organizations should implement proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in file path resolution. The implementation of a whitelist approach for language selection, rather than accepting arbitrary input, would prevent path traversal attacks. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their password management systems and implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized users can access critical administrative functions, and logging mechanisms should be enhanced to detect suspicious language parameter usage patterns.