CVE-2005-3794 in Affiliate Network Pro
Summary
by MITRE
AlstraSoft Affiliate Network Pro 7.2 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request to scripts such as (1) togateway.php and (2) other unspecified scripts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3794 affects AlstraSoft Affiliate Network Pro version 7.2, presenting a significant information disclosure risk that could enable remote attackers to access sensitive system data through direct script requests. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the web application's access control mechanisms, allowing unauthorized users to bypass normal authentication and authorization procedures. The vulnerability specifically targets scripts including togateway.php and other unspecified components within the application's codebase, indicating a potential systemic issue with how the software handles direct access requests to its backend processes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper output filtering or information exposure, and demonstrates how inadequate input validation and access control can lead to unauthorized data access. Attackers can exploit this weakness by directly accessing vulnerable scripts without proper authentication, potentially gaining access to affiliate network data, user information, transaction records, or other sensitive operational details. The vulnerability's classification as a remote information disclosure means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit the flaw, making it particularly dangerous in publicly accessible environments.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability could result in substantial damage to the affiliate network's integrity and user trust, as sensitive business and user data could be exposed to unauthorized parties. The exposure of affiliate commission data, user login credentials, or business transaction records could lead to financial losses, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. Organizations relying on this software would face increased risk of fraud, data breaches, and potential legal consequences due to inadequate data protection measures. The vulnerability also represents a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks, as initial reconnaissance of sensitive data could provide attackers with additional information for further exploitation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper access controls and input validation mechanisms across all application scripts. Organizations should ensure that all backend scripts require proper authentication and authorization checks before executing sensitive operations. The implementation of web application firewalls and security monitoring systems can help detect and prevent unauthorized direct script access attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the application. The remediation approach should include updating to patched versions of the software, implementing proper session management, and establishing comprehensive logging and monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper access control implementation in web applications, aligning with security frameworks that emphasize the need for defense in depth and principle of least privilege access controls.