CVE-2005-2217 in Dansie Shopping Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Dansie Shopping Cart stores the vars.dat file under the web root with insufficient access control, which might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information such as program variables.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2217 represents a critical access control flaw within the Dansie Shopping Cart web application that exposes sensitive configuration data to unauthorized users. This issue stems from the application's improper file management practices where the vars.dat file containing program variables is stored within the web root directory without adequate access restrictions. The web root directory is inherently accessible via HTTP requests, making any files placed there immediately available to remote attackers without authentication or authorization checks. This configuration violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper file system permissions that are essential for protecting sensitive application data.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure to implement proper access controls on sensitive files stored in the web server's document root. The vars.dat file likely contains critical application configuration parameters, database connection strings, or other program variables that could be exploited by malicious actors. When files are stored in the web root without proper access restrictions, they become directly accessible through standard HTTP requests, allowing attackers to download or read these files remotely. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-276 category of Incorrect Default Permissions, which specifically addresses situations where applications or systems are configured with overly permissive access controls that expose sensitive data. The flaw enables information disclosure attacks where remote adversaries can obtain confidential information that should remain protected within the application's secure environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise the entire application infrastructure. Attackers who successfully access the vars.dat file could extract database credentials, API keys, or other sensitive configuration parameters that might enable them to escalate their attack to further compromise the system. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to gather intelligence about the application's internal structure and configuration, which can be used to plan more sophisticated attacks. According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to the T1083 technique for File and Directory Discovery, where adversaries enumerate files and directories to understand the target system's configuration and identify potential attack vectors. The exposure of program variables could also reveal application logic patterns, making it easier for attackers to exploit other vulnerabilities within the same application.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of proper file access controls and reconfiguration of the application's file storage mechanisms. The vars.dat file must be moved outside the web root directory and configured with appropriate access permissions that restrict access to authorized application processes only. System administrators should implement proper file system permissions using the principle of least privilege, ensuring that only necessary processes can access sensitive configuration files. Additionally, the application should be configured to prevent direct HTTP access to sensitive files and directories through proper web server configuration. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security reviews of their web applications to identify similar misconfigurations and implement automated scanning tools to detect and prevent such vulnerabilities in the future. The fix should also include implementing proper logging and monitoring of file access attempts to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure compliance with security standards such as those outlined in the ISO 27001 framework for information security management.