CVE-2014-3851 in Pyplate
Summary
by MITRE
usr/lib/cgi-bin/create_passwd_file.py in Pyplate 0.08 uses world-readable permissions for passwd.db, which allows local users to obtain the administrator password by reading this file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/11/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3851 affects Pyplate version 0.08 and represents a critical security flaw in the application's handling of sensitive authentication data. This issue resides within the usr/lib/cgi-bin/create_passwd_file.py script which is responsible for creating password database files for the system. The fundamental problem stems from improper file permission configuration where the passwd.db file is created with world-readable permissions, exposing sensitive authentication information to all local users on the system. This represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor security hygiene in file access control implementation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through straightforward file system enumeration and read operations. Local users who can execute commands on the affected system can simply navigate to the designated directory and read the passwd.db file directly. This file contains hashed passwords or other authentication credentials that would normally be protected from unauthorized access. The flaw operates at the operating system level where file permissions are not properly enforced during file creation, allowing any user account to gain access to administrative authentication data. This vulnerability falls under CWE-732, which specifically addresses incorrect permission assignment for critical resources, and demonstrates how inadequate access control mechanisms can lead to privilege escalation and unauthorized system access.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for systems running Pyplate 0.08. An attacker with local access can immediately obtain administrative credentials, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The exposure of administrative passwords undermines the entire authentication framework and allows for persistent access to the system. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where local access might be more readily available to untrusted users. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft as it enables further exploitation through privilege escalation attacks and lateral movement within the network. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique under T1068, where adversaries leverage weak file permissions to gain elevated access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3851 should focus on immediate remediation of file permissions and implementation of proper access controls. The most direct fix involves ensuring that the passwd.db file is created with restrictive permissions such as 600 or 640, preventing world-readable access. System administrators should also implement proper file ownership controls, ensuring that sensitive files are owned by the appropriate system user or service account. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar permission misconfigurations across the system. Organizations should consider implementing automated scanning tools to detect and alert on world-readable sensitive files. The long-term solution requires establishing secure coding practices and configuration management processes that enforce proper access control from the initial development phase through deployment and ongoing system maintenance.