CVE-2005-1733 in Cookie Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Cookie Cart stores the password file under the web document root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain usernames and encrypted passwords via a direct request to passwd.txt.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-1733 represents a critical misconfiguration in the Cookie Cart web application that exposes sensitive authentication data through improper access controls. This flaw resides in the application's handling of user credential storage, where the password file is placed in a location accessible to the web server's document root directory. The configuration error creates an explicit access control weakness that violates fundamental security principles of information protection and access restriction.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly secure sensitive files within the web server's accessible directory structure. When the password file named passwd.txt is stored in the web document root, it becomes directly accessible through standard web requests without proper authentication or authorization checks. This misconfiguration allows attackers to bypass normal application security controls by simply crafting a direct HTTP request to the specific file path, thereby eliminating any need for legitimate user credentials or session management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with complete access to user authentication credentials in an easily exploitable format. The exposure of usernames and encrypted passwords creates a significant risk for account compromise, especially if the encryption method used is weak or predictable. Attackers can leverage this information to conduct credential stuffing attacks, perform brute force attempts against weak passwords, or use the stolen credentials to gain unauthorized access to user accounts within the application's ecosystem. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions and inadequate access control mechanisms.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous in environments where web applications lack proper security hardening. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The exposure of authentication data through direct file access represents a classic example of insecure direct object reference, where application components are directly accessible without proper authorization checks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security architecture improvements. The primary fix involves relocating sensitive files outside of the web document root directory and implementing proper access controls through web server configuration or application-level authorization mechanisms. Security professionals should implement file permission restrictions that prevent direct web access to sensitive files while maintaining proper application functionality. Additionally, the application should be configured to enforce proper authentication and authorization checks before any sensitive data access is permitted, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks. Organizations should also implement monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive files and establish regular security assessments to identify similar misconfigurations throughout their web application portfolio.