CVE-2014-9049 in ownCloud
Summary
by MITRE
The documents application in ownCloud Server 6.x before 6.0.6 and 7.x before 7.0.3 allows remote authenticated users to obtain all valid session IDs via an unspecified API method.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9049 affects ownCloud Server versions 6.x prior to 6.0.6 and 7.x prior to 7.0.3, representing a critical security flaw in the documents application component. This issue enables remote authenticated attackers to extract all valid session identifiers through an unspecified API method, creating a significant risk to user authentication and data integrity within the affected systems. The vulnerability resides in the session management mechanism of the documents application, which fails to properly validate or restrict access to session information that should remain protected from unauthorized retrieval by authenticated users.
The technical flaw manifests through an API endpoint that lacks proper access controls and validation mechanisms for session data retrieval. When authenticated users interact with the documents application, they can exploit this weakness to enumerate session IDs that are typically protected within the application's internal session management system. This vulnerability falls under the category of information disclosure, specifically related to session management and authentication mechanisms, and aligns with CWE-200 which addresses information exposure. The flaw represents a failure in proper authorization controls where legitimate authenticated users can access session information that should be restricted to administrative or system-level operations only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it allows attackers to potentially hijack user sessions, escalate privileges, or perform unauthorized actions within the ownCloud environment. Once session IDs are obtained, attackers can impersonate legitimate users and access their files, documents, and other resources within the ownCloud system. This creates a pathway for data theft, privilege escalation, and unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in the cloud environment. The vulnerability affects all authenticated users of the documents application, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any user with valid credentials, potentially leading to widespread compromise of user data and system integrity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected ownCloud Server installations to versions 6.0.6 or 7.0.3 and later, which contain the necessary fixes to address the session ID disclosure issue. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and monitoring for API endpoints within the documents application, ensuring that session information is properly protected and that only authorized system components can access such sensitive data. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual API access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper session management and access control implementation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1563.002 which addresses credential access through session hijacking and unauthorized access to system resources. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning of cloud infrastructure components are essential to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.