CVE-2014-5448 in WebAccess
Summary
by MITRE
Zarafa 5.00 uses world-readable permissions for the files in the log directory, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading the log files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5448 affects Zarafa 5.00 email server software and represents a significant security flaw related to improper file permissions. This issue manifests when the application creates log files within its designated log directory, where these files are configured with world-readable permissions instead of more restrictive access controls. The fundamental technical flaw lies in the application's failure to implement proper discretionary access control mechanisms for sensitive log data, creating an environment where any local user on the system can access and read these log files without authentication or authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as log files typically contain sensitive data including user credentials, session information, system activities, and potentially confidential communications. When log files are accessible to all local users, attackers can exploit this weakness to gather intelligence about system operations, identify valid user accounts, extract authentication tokens, and potentially discover patterns in system usage that could aid in further attacks. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-732, which describes improper restriction of operations within a modified system, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all system file access controls. The attack surface is particularly concerning because local access is often easier to achieve than remote access, and once an attacker has local privileges, they can leverage this vulnerability to escalate their reconnaissance efforts.
The implications of this vulnerability align with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1005 (Data from Local System) as attackers can systematically enumerate and extract sensitive data from the compromised system. Organizations using Zarafa 5.00 are particularly at risk because the vulnerability exists at the file system level rather than requiring exploitation of application-specific flaws, making it more persistent and harder to detect. The remediation strategy should focus on implementing proper file permission controls where log files are created with restricted access permissions, typically limiting access to the application user and system administrators only. Additionally, organizations should implement regular security audits to verify that log file permissions remain properly configured and consider implementing log rotation mechanisms with appropriate access controls to prevent accumulation of sensitive data in accessible locations. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper security configuration management and the necessity of conducting thorough security reviews of all system components, particularly those handling sensitive data processing and storage.