CVE-2005-1425 in Uguestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Uapplication Uguestbook 1.0 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download a database via a direct request for mdb-database/guestbook.mdb.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1425 represents a critical misconfiguration issue within the Uapplication Uguestbook 1.0 web application that exposes sensitive data through inadequate access controls. This flaw allows remote attackers to directly access and download the guestbook.mdb database file through a simple HTTP request, bypassing all intended security mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of file permissions and directory structure, where database files are stored in web-accessible directories without proper authentication or authorization checks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-275 permissions issues and specifically manifests as a lack of proper access control mechanisms. The application stores the Microsoft Access database file guestbook.mdb in a location that is directly accessible via web requests, creating an information disclosure vulnerability that enables unauthorized data access. This configuration violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and secure by default design. Attackers can exploit this by simply constructing a URL that points to the database file, making the exploitation trivial and requiring no advanced techniques or special privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with complete access to the guestbook database contents, which may contain personal information, user credentials, or other sensitive data depending on the application's usage. This exposure can lead to identity theft, data breaches, and potential further exploitation within the network. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat since the misconfiguration remains active until the application is properly configured or updated. The low complexity of exploitation means that even automated scanning tools can identify and exploit this issue, making it particularly dangerous in environments where applications are not regularly audited for security misconfigurations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper file access controls and directory permissions. The database files must be moved outside of the web root directory and access must be controlled through proper application-level authentication mechanisms. Organizations should implement the principle of least privilege by ensuring that web servers have minimal required access to application files. Additionally, regular security audits and web application firewalls should be deployed to monitor and prevent direct file access attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and proper configuration management as outlined in various security frameworks and standards. The incident also highlights the need for regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar misconfigurations that could provide attackers with unauthorized access to sensitive information.