CVE-2005-2005 in Ultimate PHP Board
Summary
by MITRE
Ultimate PHP Board (UPB) 1.9.6 GOLD and earlier stores the users.dat file under the web document root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information on registered users via a direct request to db/users.dat.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2005 affects Ultimate PHP Board version 1.9.6 GOLD and earlier installations, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that stems from improper file access controls within the application's directory structure. This vulnerability specifically targets the users.dat file which contains sensitive user registration data and is improperly placed within the web document root directory, making it directly accessible through standard web requests without authentication or authorization checks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a straightforward direct request to the db/users.dat file path, allowing remote attackers to bypass normal access controls and retrieve the contents of the users.dat file. This file typically contains registration information including usernames, email addresses, and potentially other user-specific data that could be used for further attacks. The flaw demonstrates poor security practices in application design where sensitive data files are not properly protected from web-accessible directories, creating an attack surface that directly violates fundamental security principles of data isolation and access control.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations to significant risks including user identity theft, credential compromise, and potential escalation to further attacks within the system. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-200, which describes improper output neutralization for logs, and CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access controls. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gather intelligence about registered users, potentially enabling targeted social engineering attacks, credential stuffing attempts, or account takeover operations that could compromise the entire user base of the affected forum.
The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002, which involves data from information repositories, as attackers can directly access stored user data without requiring additional exploitation steps. Organizations using affected versions of UPB face immediate security risks, as the vulnerability does not require complex exploitation methods and can be readily discovered through automated scanning tools. The flaw represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference where the application fails to validate access permissions before serving sensitive data files.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate implementation of proper file access controls by moving sensitive data files outside the web document root directory and ensuring appropriate permissions are applied to prevent direct web access. Organizations should also implement proper authentication and authorization checks for all file access requests, and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block direct requests to sensitive data files. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar misconfigurations in other applications and systems, as this type of flaw is commonly found in legacy applications that have not been properly updated or secured according to modern security standards and best practices.