CVE-2003-1404 in Botbr
Summary
by MITRE
DotBr 0.1 stores config.inc with insufficient access control under the web document root, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information such as SQL usernames and passwords.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2003-1404 represents a critical misconfiguration issue within the DotBr 0.1 web application that exposes sensitive configuration data to unauthorized remote actors. This flaw resides in the application's improper handling of file permissions and access controls, specifically within the web document root directory structure. The configuration file config.inc contains database authentication credentials and other sensitive information that should never be publicly accessible, yet the application fails to implement proper access restrictions that would prevent remote attackers from retrieving this data through direct HTTP requests.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses incorrect access control mechanisms and improper file permissions within web applications. The flaw exploits a fundamental security principle where sensitive files are stored in publicly accessible directories without adequate authorization controls. Remote attackers can simply append the config.inc filename to the web server's URL path to retrieve the complete configuration file, thereby gaining access to database connection strings, username credentials, and potentially other sensitive operational parameters. This type of vulnerability demonstrates a classic path traversal and information disclosure weakness that has been prevalent in web applications since early internet deployment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the credentials necessary to directly access backend databases and potentially compromise entire database systems. Once attackers obtain the SQL usernames and passwords, they can establish unauthorized database connections, potentially leading to data exfiltration, modification of database content, or even complete system compromise if the database accounts possess elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad, as it allows unauthorized parties to access sensitive information that should remain protected within the application's internal configuration files.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the fundamental misconfiguration at its source by implementing proper file access controls and secure configuration management practices. Organizations should ensure that all sensitive configuration files are stored outside of the web document root directory and that appropriate file permissions are enforced to prevent unauthorized access. The solution should include implementing proper web server configuration to deny access to sensitive files and establishing secure deployment practices that prevent sensitive data from being exposed through the web interface. Additionally, this vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, which emphasize the critical need for proper access control implementation and secure configuration management to prevent exactly this type of information disclosure attack.