CVE-2022-47561 in ekorCCP
Summary
by MITRE • 09/20/2023
** UNSUPPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** The web application stores credentials in clear text in the "admin.xml" file, which can be accessed without logging into the website, which could allow an attacker to obtain credentials related to all users, including admin users, in clear text, and use them to subsequently execute malicious actions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in web application credential storage mechanisms that directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in cwe-312. The application stores administrative credentials in plaintext within an xml configuration file named "admin.xml" which is accessible without authentication requirements, creating an immediate and severe risk to system integrity. This configuration exposes sensitive authentication data to any attacker who can access the web application's file system or network endpoints, effectively eliminating any barrier between unauthorized parties and privileged accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security architecture where sensitive information is not properly protected through encryption or access controls, allowing for privilege escalation and unauthorized access to administrative functions.
The technical implementation flaw lies in the application's failure to implement proper credential management practices, specifically the absence of encryption for stored credentials and inadequate access controls for configuration files. This type of vulnerability aligns with cwe-522 which addresses insufficiently protected credentials, and cwe-276 which covers incorrect permissions for critical resources. The fact that the admin.xml file can be accessed without authentication indicates a fundamental flaw in the application's security model, where sensitive configuration data is stored in a manner that bypasses normal authentication mechanisms. Attackers can directly retrieve these credentials and subsequently use them to assume administrative roles within the system, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft to encompass full administrative control of the web application. An attacker who discovers the location of the admin.xml file can immediately access credentials for all users, including administrative accounts, which enables them to perform malicious actions such as modifying user permissions, accessing sensitive data, deleting content, or installing malware. This vulnerability directly maps to several attack techniques in the mitre att&ck framework under the credential access and privilege escalation categories, specifically targeting the collection of credentials through file system access and the exploitation of weak credential storage mechanisms. The impact is particularly severe because the credentials are stored in clear text, eliminating any requirement for additional cracking or decryption efforts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues. The most critical immediate action involves encrypting all stored credentials using strong encryption algorithms such as aes-256 and implementing proper access controls for configuration files through file system permissions and web server configurations. The application should be redesigned to store credentials in a secure database with proper access controls rather than in plaintext files. Additionally, implementing proper authentication mechanisms for accessing configuration files, regular security audits of file permissions, and establishing secure credential management practices would significantly reduce the risk. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to sensitive configuration files and establish proper incident response procedures for credential exposure events. The remediation process should align with security standards such as nist cybersecurity framework and iso/iec 27001 requirements for secure credential management and access control implementation.