CVE-2014-5447 in WebAccess
Summary
by MITRE
Zarafa WebAccess 7.1.10 and WebApp 1.6 beta uses weak permissions (644) for config.php, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading the PHP session files. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2014-0103.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-5447 represents a critical security flaw in Zarafa WebAccess and WebApp software versions 7.1.10 and 1.6 beta respectively. This issue stems from improper file permission settings that create exploitable conditions for local attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information. The core problem manifests through the configuration file config.php which is assigned overly permissive Unix file permissions of 644, allowing any local user to read the file contents. This weakness directly enables information disclosure attacks where malicious actors can extract confidential data including database credentials, session tokens, and other sensitive configuration parameters that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the misconfiguration of file access controls within the Zarafa web application environment. When a file is set with permissions of 644, it grants read access to the owner, group, and others, which is inappropriate for configuration files containing sensitive authentication and connection details. The vulnerability operates through the exploitation of weak file system permissions, allowing local users to bypass normal access controls that should restrict reading of critical system files. This represents a classic case of inadequate privilege separation and improper security hardening practices within the application deployment. The flaw is particularly concerning because it allows any local user account to potentially read session files and extract PHP session information, which often contains authentication tokens and other sensitive data that can be leveraged for further attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5447 extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. An attacker who gains access to the config.php file can obtain database connection strings, API keys, and other credentials that may allow them to escalate privileges or move laterally within the network. The vulnerability creates a persistent security risk that remains active as long as the weak permissions persist, making it particularly dangerous for environments where local user access cannot be strictly controlled. This issue represents a failure in proper security configuration management and demonstrates how incomplete fixes for previous vulnerabilities can create new attack surfaces. The impact is amplified when considering that this vulnerability exists due to an incomplete fix for CVE-2014-0103, indicating a pattern of security mismanagement where remediation efforts fail to address all aspects of the underlying security problem.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including proper file permission configuration, ensuring that sensitive configuration files are only readable by the appropriate system users and groups. The recommended approach involves changing file permissions to restrict access to the config.php file and related session files, typically to 600 or 640 permissions depending on the specific requirements of the system. System administrators should also conduct comprehensive audits of all application configuration files to identify similar permission issues that may exist within the environment. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-732: Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resources and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1552.001: Unsecured Credentials, where attackers exploit weak file permissions to access sensitive information. Additionally, the issue reflects poor security hygiene practices and inadequate security configuration management that should be addressed through comprehensive security assessment procedures and regular vulnerability scanning activities to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.