CVE-2014-8701 in Wonder
Summary
by MITRE
Wonder CMS 2014 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by viewing /files/password, which reveals the unsalted MD5 hashed password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8701 affects Wonder CMS 2014, a content management system that presents a critical security flaw allowing remote attackers to access sensitive authentication data. This issue stems from improper access controls within the application's file structure, specifically exposing the /files/password endpoint which contains hashed credentials. The vulnerability represents a significant weakness in the system's security architecture and demonstrates poor implementation of access control mechanisms. According to CWE-200, this vulnerability directly relates to information exposure, where sensitive data is made accessible to unauthorized parties through insecure file access patterns.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the application's failure to properly authenticate requests to the password file endpoint. When an attacker accesses the /files/password path, they can retrieve the password hash without requiring valid credentials or authentication. This unauthenticated access occurs because the application lacks proper authorization checks before serving sensitive files. The password is stored using an unsalted MD5 hashing algorithm, which significantly weakens the security posture and makes the credential recovery process substantially easier for attackers. The combination of unsalted hashing and exposed access points creates a dangerous scenario where even basic password cracking techniques can successfully compromise user accounts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with a direct path to unauthorized system access. Once an attacker obtains the MD5 hash, they can attempt various cracking methods including dictionary attacks, brute force operations, or utilize precomputed rainbow tables to recover the original password. The unsalted nature of the MD5 hash means that attackers can leverage well-known hash databases and cracking tools to quickly identify the cleartext password. This vulnerability directly enables privilege escalation attacks and can lead to complete system compromise, as the compromised credentials may be used for administrative access to the CMS. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no prior authentication, making it an ideal target for automated exploitation tools and widespread scanning campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-8701 should address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary fix involves implementing proper access controls to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files, including the password file endpoint. This requires enforcing authentication checks before serving any sensitive data and implementing proper file permissions that restrict access to authorized users only. Security measures should include input validation to prevent path traversal attacks and ensure that file access is properly validated. Organizations should also implement proper password security practices, including the use of salted hashing algorithms such as bcrypt or scrypt instead of unsalted MD5. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential access through various methods including unauthorized access to authentication data. Additionally, this issue demonstrates the importance of following security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten, particularly in areas related to authentication and sensitive data protection. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in file access patterns and ensure that sensitive system information remains properly protected.