CVE-2014-9045 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
The FTP backend in user_external in ownCloud Server before 5.0.18 and 6.x before 6.0.6 allows remote attackers to bypass intended authentication requirements via a crafted password.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9045 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the user_external module of ownCloud Server versions prior to 5.0.18 and 6.x versions before 6.0.6. This issue specifically affects the FTP backend implementation that handles external user authentication, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on external authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and authentication flow control within the FTP backend component, allowing malicious actors to exploit a weakness in the password handling process.
The technical flaw manifests when an attacker crafts a specially formatted password that bypasses the intended authentication checks implemented by the FTP backend. This vulnerability operates at the authentication layer where the system should validate user credentials against external FTP servers but instead accepts malformed or specially constructed password inputs. The flaw enables unauthorized access to systems where ownCloud is configured to authenticate users through external FTP services, effectively undermining the security controls designed to protect user access. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege in access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and potentially gain access to sensitive data stored within the ownCloud environment. Organizations using external FTP authentication for their ownCloud deployments face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized file access, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous in environments where external authentication is widely deployed. Attackers can leverage this flaw to impersonate legitimate users and access shared files, folders, and potentially system resources that should be restricted to authorized personnel.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9045 should prioritize immediate patching of affected ownCloud installations to versions 5.0.18 or 6.0.6 and later, which contain the necessary authentication validation fixes. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of affected systems, while conducting thorough audits of external authentication configurations. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and authentication flow control in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1110 for credential access. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication mechanisms as additional defense-in-depth measures to reduce the impact of potential authentication bypasses. Regular security assessments of external authentication integrations and comprehensive vulnerability scanning should be part of ongoing security operations to identify similar weaknesses in other authentication backends.