CVE-2014-9044 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
Asset Pipeline in ownCloud 7.x before 7.0.3 uses an MD5 hash of the absolute file paths of the original CSS and JS files as the name of the concatenated file, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a brute force attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9044 resides within the Asset Pipeline functionality of ownCloud 7.x versions prior to 7.0.3, representing a significant information disclosure weakness that stems from predictable file naming mechanisms. This flaw exploits the use of MD5 hash functions applied to absolute file paths, creating a deterministic naming scheme that adversaries can exploit through brute force techniques to infer sensitive file structures and potentially access confidential data within the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the Asset Pipeline component generating concatenated CSS and JavaScript files using MD5 hashes derived from absolute file paths rather than random or secure identifiers. When ownCloud processes asset files for delivery, it calculates an MD5 hash of the complete file path including directory structure and filename, then uses this hash value as the identifier for the concatenated output file. This approach fundamentally compromises security since MD5 hashes of predictable file paths will produce consistent, guessable filenames that attackers can systematically enumerate.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to construct detailed maps of the application's file structure and potentially identify sensitive components within the system. An attacker can perform systematic brute force attacks against the concatenated asset files, using known or common file paths to generate corresponding MD5 hashes and subsequently access the corresponding asset files. This capability can reveal directory structures, file names, and potentially sensitive code patterns that could aid in further exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-330, which addresses the use of insufficiently random values, and represents a specific instance of predictable identifier generation that violates fundamental security principles. The weakness also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1212, which involves exploitation of weaknesses in input validation and data handling processes. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly innocuous file naming conventions can create security risks when they rely on deterministic hashing of predictable inputs rather than cryptographically secure randomization.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected ownCloud installations to version 7.0.3 or later, which addresses the predictable naming mechanism by implementing more secure file identifier generation. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring for unusual access patterns to asset files and consider implementing rate limiting or access controls on asset delivery endpoints. The fix typically involves replacing MD5-based path hashing with cryptographically secure random identifiers or implementing proper entropy in the naming process, ensuring that even if an attacker can guess one file name, they cannot predict others in the system.