CVE-2005-2029 in Web Frontend
Summary
by MITRE
amaroK Web Frontend 1.3 stores the globals.inc file under the web root without a .php extension and insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain the database username and password via a direct request to the file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2029 represents a critical security flaw in the amaroK Web Frontend version 1.3 that exposes sensitive authentication credentials through improper file access controls. This issue stems from the web application's inadequate configuration where the globals.inc file containing database credentials is placed within the web root directory without proper file extension handling or access restrictions. The absence of a .php extension on this critical configuration file creates an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized users to directly access sensitive information through simple HTTP requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the web server's handling of file requests and access permissions. When the globals.inc file is stored in the web root directory without proper access controls or file extension validation, it becomes directly accessible to any remote attacker who can guess or discover the file path. This flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control mechanisms. The file contains database authentication credentials that are typically stored in configuration files and should be protected from unauthorized access through proper file permissions, directory structure, or access control mechanisms.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk to database security and overall system integrity. Remote attackers who discover the location of the globals.inc file can immediately extract database username and password combinations, potentially enabling them to gain unauthorized access to the underlying database system. This access could lead to data theft, data manipulation, privilege escalation, and further exploitation of the affected system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal effort to exploit and provides attackers with direct access to database credentials without needing to overcome additional authentication barriers.
The weakness identified in this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access control issues. This flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential access through the exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security practices in web application development and configuration management, where sensitive information is stored in publicly accessible locations without proper protection mechanisms. Organizations should implement proper file access controls, ensure that configuration files containing credentials are stored outside of web root directories, and enforce appropriate file permissions to prevent unauthorized access.
Effective mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate removal of sensitive configuration files from web-accessible directories, implementation of proper file access controls through web server configuration, and enforcement of proper directory permissions. Security administrators should ensure that all configuration files containing authentication credentials are stored in protected locations with restricted access permissions. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and file extension handling can prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in web applications, ensuring that sensitive information is properly protected through established security frameworks and best practices.