CVE-2007-0076 in Openforum
Summary
by MITRE
Openforum stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download a database containing user passwords via a direct request for openforum.mdb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2015
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-0076 represents a critical security flaw in the Openforum application that exposes sensitive user data through improper access control mechanisms. This issue stems from the application's improper configuration where database files containing user credentials are stored within the web root directory without adequate protection measures. The web root directory is typically accessible to any user who can send HTTP requests to the web server, making it a prime target for attackers seeking unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to enforce proper access controls on database files stored in publicly accessible directories. When an attacker sends a direct HTTP request for the specific database file openforum.mdb, the web server serves the file without requiring authentication or authorization checks. This misconfiguration violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper resource access control. The vulnerability specifically affects the application's handling of database files, where sensitive user password information is stored in a format that can be directly downloaded by unauthorized parties.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for organizations using the affected Openforum application. Attackers can directly access and download the database file containing user credentials, potentially compromising thousands of user accounts simultaneously. This creates a significant risk of credential theft, account takeover, and subsequent unauthorized access to systems and networks. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a complete database of user passwords, which can be used for further attacks including lateral movement within networks, credential reuse attacks, and social engineering campaigns. The exposure of user passwords through this direct file access mechanism bypasses all normal authentication processes and security controls that should normally protect such sensitive information.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and CWE-552, which addresses files or directories readable by unauthorized users. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing) as attackers can use the stolen credentials for further compromise. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including moving database files outside of web-accessible directories, implementing proper access controls and authentication mechanisms, and conducting comprehensive security audits of all web applications. The remediation process requires reconfiguring the application to ensure that sensitive database files are stored in secure locations with appropriate access controls, while also implementing proper input validation and access restriction mechanisms to prevent direct file access attempts. Regular security testing and monitoring of web server configurations should be implemented to prevent similar misconfigurations from occurring in the future.