CVE-2007-0089 in database
Summary
by MITRE
jgbbs stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download a database containing passwords via a direct request for db/bbs.mdb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-0089 represents a critical misconfiguration issue in the jgbbs web application that exposes sensitive data through improper access controls. This flaw exists within the application's file management system where database files containing user credentials are stored in a location accessible through the web root directory structure. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement proper authorization checks before serving database files, creating an attack surface that allows remote adversaries to directly access sensitive information without authentication.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a straightforward direct request mechanism where attackers can access the database file at db/bbs.mdb by simply appending this path to the web application's URL. This represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference vulnerability, where the application fails to verify that the requesting user has appropriate authorization to access the requested resource. The database file contains passwords and potentially other sensitive information, making this a serious security risk that could lead to credential compromise and further system infiltration.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations using the jgbbs application as it allows attackers to obtain authentication credentials without requiring any prior access or authentication. The exposure of password databases through direct file access provides attackers with immediate access to user accounts, enabling potential account takeovers, privilege escalation, and lateral movement within the compromised environment. This vulnerability directly violates security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, as sensitive data is accessible through predictable paths without proper authorization checks.
The flaw aligns with CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) categories, demonstrating how poor file access control implementation can lead to unauthorized data exposure. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) and T1566 (Phishing for Information) techniques, as it enables attackers to discover and access sensitive files without traditional exploitation methods. Organizations should implement proper access control mechanisms, restrict web root file access, and employ proper input validation to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited. The recommended mitigations include moving sensitive database files outside the web root directory, implementing proper authentication checks for file access requests, and conducting regular security audits to identify and remediate similar misconfigurations.