CVE-2005-1631 in booby
Summary
by MITRE
booby.php in Booby 1.0.0 and earlier allows remote attackers to view private bookmarks by guessing item IDs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1631 represents a critical access control flaw within the Booby 1.0.0 web application that manages bookmarks. This issue specifically affects the booby.php script which serves as the core component for handling bookmark operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate authorization mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions before exposing sensitive bookmark data. Attackers can exploit this weakness by simply guessing the numeric identifiers associated with private bookmarks, bypassing the intended security controls that should restrict access to authorized users only.
This flaw directly maps to CWE-284, which addresses improper access control vulnerabilities in software systems. The technical implementation of the application fails to enforce proper authentication and authorization checks when processing requests for bookmark items. The system relies on predictable item ID structures that can be enumerated through brute force techniques, allowing unauthorized users to discover and access private bookmark entries. The vulnerability exists because the application does not verify whether the requesting user has legitimate permissions to access specific bookmark items based on their ownership or assigned access rights.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, creating significant risks for users who store sensitive information within the bookmark system. An attacker can systematically guess item IDs and gain access to private bookmarks that should only be visible to the legitimate owner or authorized personnel. This compromise undermines the fundamental security model of the application and can lead to unauthorized access to confidential information, personal data, or business-sensitive resources stored in the bookmark collection. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal technical expertise to exploit, making it accessible to attackers with basic knowledge of web application security principles.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and credential access domains. Attackers can leverage this weakness as part of a broader attack chain to gain deeper access to systems or information. The predictable nature of item ID generation creates a pattern that can be automated, enabling rapid enumeration of private bookmarks. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability when implementing network monitoring and access control policies, as it represents a clear indication of insufficient input validation and access control implementation. Organizations using affected versions of Booby should immediately implement patches or workarounds that enforce proper authentication checks before serving private bookmark data.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust access control mechanisms that verify user permissions for each bookmark item request. The application must validate that the requesting user has appropriate authorization to access specific bookmark entries, regardless of the item ID provided in the request. Input validation should be strengthened to prevent predictable ID enumeration, and the system should implement rate limiting or other protective measures to prevent automated guessing attacks. Additionally, the application should adopt proper session management and authentication controls to ensure that only authenticated users can access bookmark functionality, with access rights properly enforced at the application level rather than relying on predictable identifier structures that can be easily guessed by unauthorized parties.