CVE-2005-0229 in Citrusdb Customer Database
Summary
by MITRE
CitrusDB 0.3.5 and earlier stores the newfile.txt temporary data file under the web root, which allows remote attackers to steal credit card information via a direct request to newfile.txt.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
CitrusDB version 0.3.5 and earlier contains a critical security flaw that stems from improper temporary file handling within the web application's directory structure. The vulnerability arises when the system creates temporary files named newfile.txt and places them directly under the web root directory, making them accessible via standard web requests. This configuration fundamentally violates secure coding practices and creates an exploitable attack surface that directly compromises sensitive data integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in temporary file management where the application does not properly isolate temporary data from the web-accessible directory tree. When CitrusDB processes file uploads or generates temporary content, it creates the newfile.txt file in a location that is directly served by the web server without any access controls or authentication requirements. This misconfiguration allows any remote attacker to directly access the temporary file through a simple http request to the newfile.txt endpoint, bypassing all normal application security controls and authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly affects data confidentiality and integrity. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to credit card information and other sensitive data that may be temporarily stored in the newfile.txt file. This represents a critical data breach scenario where attackers can harvest financial information without requiring any special privileges or complex attack vectors. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor that allows persistent access to sensitive data that should never be exposed through the web interface, potentially leading to significant financial losses, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage for affected organizations.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-377: Insecure Temporary File and CWE-276: Incorrect Permissions for a Resource, as it demonstrates both improper temporary file handling and inadequate access controls for web-accessible resources. From an attack perspective, this flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078: Valid Accounts and T1566: Phishing, as attackers can leverage the exposed temporary files to harvest credentials and sensitive information without requiring additional compromise steps. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including moving temporary file storage outside the web root directory, implementing proper access controls and file permissions, and conducting regular security audits to identify and remediate similar misconfigurations. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and proper input validation to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data through temporary file manipulation.