CVE-2005-1595 in ShoppingCart
Summary
by MITRE
CodeThat ShoppingCart 1.3.1 stores config.ini under the web root, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1595 affects CodeThat ShoppingCart version 1.3.1, presenting a critical security flaw that stems from improper file placement within the web application architecture. This issue manifests when the application's configuration file config.ini is stored in a location accessible through the web root directory structure. The web root represents the primary directory from which web servers serve files to clients, making any sensitive configuration data stored there inherently vulnerable to unauthorized access. This misconfiguration creates a direct pathway for remote attackers to exploit the system by simply requesting the config.ini file through standard web protocols without requiring any authentication or specialized privileges.
The technical flaw underlying this vulnerability resides in the application's insecure file management practices and inadequate security controls within the web server configuration. When configuration files containing sensitive information such as database credentials, administrative passwords, or other system parameters are placed within the web root, they become accessible through standard HTTP requests. This represents a fundamental violation of the principle of least privilege and proper information security compartmentalization. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-275 permissions, specifically addressing inadequate permissions on critical resources, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for credential access through web application vulnerabilities. The flaw enables attackers to directly retrieve sensitive data that should remain protected within the application's internal security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed configuration file may contain critical system credentials that could enable attackers to escalate their privileges and gain deeper access to the underlying infrastructure. Attackers can leverage the retrieved information to perform various malicious activities including database access, administrative system compromise, or even lateral movement within the network. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad and can lead to complete system compromise if the configuration file contains database connection strings, API keys, or administrative credentials. Organizations using this shopping cart system face significant risk of data breaches, unauthorized access to customer information, and potential financial losses due to compromised e-commerce operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation through proper file placement and access control implementation. The primary fix involves relocating the config.ini file outside of the web root directory structure, ensuring that it cannot be accessed through standard web requests. Security administrators should implement proper file permissions and access controls to restrict access to sensitive configuration files to only authorized system processes and administrators. Additional measures include regular security audits of file placements, implementing web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious file access patterns, and establishing proper logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify similar misconfigurations across their entire application portfolio, as this type of vulnerability often indicates broader security configuration issues that may affect other components within the same system. The remediation process should follow industry best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 frameworks for secure system configuration management.