CVE-2005-4013 in Statistik
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Web Statistik 1.4 stores the stat.cfg file under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information such as statistics and the log directory location, possibly including the logdb.dta file.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4013 affects PHP Web Statistik version 1.4 and represents a critical access control flaw that exposes sensitive system information through improper file placement and permission configuration. This issue stems from the application's failure to implement proper access controls for configuration files stored within the web root directory, creating a significant security risk for web applications that rely on this statistics package. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it demonstrates poor security practices in file management and access control implementation that could be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to system information.
The technical flaw in PHP Web Statistik 1.4 occurs when the stat.cfg configuration file is stored within the web accessible directory structure without proper access restrictions. This misconfiguration allows unauthorized users to access the file through standard web requests, as the application fails to implement appropriate file permissions or access control mechanisms that would normally prevent web users from accessing sensitive configuration data. The stat.cfg file contains critical information including statistical data and references to log directory locations, which may include additional sensitive files such as logdb.dta that contains detailed logging information. This represents a classic case of inadequate input validation and access control implementation that violates fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential pathways to further compromise the system. When attackers can access the stat.cfg file, they gain knowledge about the application's internal structure and data storage locations, which may enable them to craft more sophisticated attacks targeting the log directory and associated database files. The exposure of the log directory location could allow attackers to identify additional sensitive files that may contain user credentials, system logs, or other confidential information. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper file permissions, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should be applied to all system components.
The security implications of CVE-2005-4013 are significant as they demonstrate how simple configuration errors can create substantial security risks in web applications. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to map the application's file structure and identify potential attack vectors, potentially leading to more serious compromises including privilege escalation or data theft. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and proper file management procedures that prevent sensitive data from being exposed through web-accessible directories. Organizations using PHP Web Statistik 1.4 should immediately implement mitigations to address this issue, including moving sensitive configuration files outside the web root, implementing proper file permissions, and conducting thorough security audits of all web applications to identify similar vulnerabilities.
Recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include moving the stat.cfg and related configuration files outside the web root directory structure to prevent direct web access, implementing proper file permissions that restrict access to authorized users only, and configuring the web server to deny access to sensitive file types. Security practitioners should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to configuration files and establish regular security assessments to identify similar access control vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, emphasizing the need for proper access control implementation and regular security testing to prevent exploitation of such configuration flaws.