CVE-2007-0090 in WineGlass
Summary
by MITRE
WineGlass 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/data.mdb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-0090 affects the WineGlass web application which is a wine management and tasting application designed for web deployment. This particular flaw resides in the application's improper handling of sensitive data storage and access control mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from the application's design decision to store critical database files within the web root directory structure, making them directly accessible through standard web protocols. This architectural oversight creates a fundamental security weakness that directly violates established principles of secure web application development and data protection.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the storage of a Microsoft Access database file named data.mdb within the web-accessible directory structure of the WineGlass application. When the application processes web requests, it fails to implement proper access controls or authentication mechanisms to restrict access to this sensitive database file. Attackers can directly construct URLs to access the database file without requiring any authentication or authorization, effectively bypassing the application's intended security controls. This flaw represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference vulnerability where the application provides direct access to internal objects without proper authorization checks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and CWE-285 which addresses insufficient authorization in access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and immediate for any organization using the affected WineGlass application. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to the entire database containing user credentials and potentially other sensitive information. The database likely contains hashed or plaintext passwords, user account information, and other confidential data that could be used for identity theft, unauthorized access to additional systems, or credential stuffing attacks. This vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a complete database dump that can be analyzed offline, potentially revealing patterns in password usage or enabling the compromise of multiple user accounts. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft as the database may contain wine inventory information, tasting notes, and user preferences that could be valuable for social engineering or targeted attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate exposure and the underlying architectural flaws that enabled the vulnerability. Organizations should immediately move the database files outside of the web root directory and implement proper access controls using authentication mechanisms before allowing access to any sensitive data. The application should be configured to use proper authorization checks for all database access requests, ensuring that only authenticated users with appropriate privileges can access sensitive information. Security patches should be applied to update the WineGlass application to versions that properly isolate sensitive data files from web access. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can help detect and block direct requests for database files, though this represents a defensive measure rather than a proper fix. The implementation of proper access control mechanisms should follow the principle of least privilege, ensuring that database access is restricted to authorized personnel only. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and the principle of defense in depth, where multiple layers of security controls work together to protect sensitive information. The incident highlights the need for regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar architectural flaws that could expose sensitive data to unauthorized access.