CVE-2014-3835 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
ownCloud Server before 5.0.16 and 6.0.x before 6.0.3 does not check permissions to the files_external application, which allows remote authenticated users to add external storage via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3835 affects ownCloud Server versions prior to 5.0.16 and 6.0.3, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security posture of cloud storage deployments. This issue stems from insufficient permission validation within the files_external application component, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers to bypass intended access controls and introduce external storage mounts into the system. The vulnerability exists in the core authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern how users interact with external storage capabilities, allowing malicious actors with legitimate user accounts to escalate their privileges and potentially access unauthorized data sources.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the lack of proper access control checks when processing external storage configuration requests. When authenticated users attempt to add external storage mounts, the system fails to verify whether the user possesses the necessary administrative or configuration permissions required for such operations. This absence of permission validation creates an attack surface where any authenticated user can manipulate the external storage configuration through unspecified vectors, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, data exfiltration, or system compromise. The vulnerability operates at the application level and affects the integrity of the file system access controls that ownCloud implements to protect user data and system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data loss, privacy breaches, and system integrity compromise. An attacker with a valid user account could leverage this flaw to mount external storage devices pointing to sensitive locations, potentially accessing data from other users or system resources that should remain protected. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise environments where ownCloud serves as a central file storage solution, as the vulnerability could enable lateral movement attacks or facilitate data exfiltration through unauthorized external storage connections. This weakness effectively undermines the principle of least privilege that should govern access to system configuration components.
Organizations utilizing affected versions of ownCloud should prioritize immediate remediation through patch updates to versions 5.0.16 and 6.0.3, which contain the necessary permission validation fixes. Additionally, security teams should implement monitoring for unauthorized external storage configuration changes and conduct comprehensive access control reviews to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software applications, and maps to attack patterns within the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and persistence tactics. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation, limiting user privileges where possible, and establishing robust audit trails for configuration changes to mitigate the risk of exploitation.