CVE-2007-1045 in mAlbum
Summary
by MITRE
mAlbum 0.3 has default accounts (1) "login"/"pass" for its administrative account and (2) "dqsfg"/"sdfg", which allows remote attackers to gain privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1045 affects mAlbum version 0.3, a web-based photo album management system that was widely used in the mid-2000s for hosting and organizing digital images on websites. This particular flaw represents a critical security weakness in the application's authentication mechanism that directly compromises system integrity and user data protection. The vulnerability stems from the inclusion of hard-coded default credentials within the application's source code, a common but dangerous practice that exposes systems to automated attacks and unauthorized access attempts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the presence of two predefined administrator accounts with well-known username and password combinations that are embedded within the application's codebase. The first default account uses the credentials "login" for the username and "pass" for the password, while the second account employs "dqsfg" as the username and "sdfg" as the password. These default credentials are typically hardcoded during the application's development phase and are not properly removed or changed during installation, creating persistent security weaknesses that remain exploitable throughout the application's lifecycle. This flaw aligns with CWE-798, which specifically addresses the use of hard-coded credentials in software applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables remote attackers to gain administrative privileges without requiring any specialized knowledge or sophisticated attack techniques. Attackers can simply access the application's login interface and attempt to authenticate using the known default credentials, bypassing all authentication mechanisms and gaining full control over the photo album management system. This unauthorized access allows attackers to modify, delete, or steal all uploaded photographs and associated metadata, potentially compromising sensitive personal or business information. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to use the compromised system as a launching point for further attacks within the network infrastructure, as administrative access often provides elevated privileges that can be leveraged for lateral movement and privilege escalation.
The security implications extend beyond immediate unauthorized access to encompass broader risks related to data integrity and system availability. Once an attacker gains administrative access through these default credentials, they can manipulate the photo album database, inject malicious content, or even use the compromised system for hosting malicious files. This vulnerability represents a classic example of poor security configuration and inadequate security hardening practices that were prevalent in web applications of that era. Organizations deploying such applications face significant risks of data breaches, reputational damage, and potential compliance violations under various data protection regulations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to address the root cause of the issue. The most effective approach involves changing the default administrative credentials to strong, unique passwords that are randomly generated and properly secured. System administrators should also implement proper access control mechanisms, including account lockout policies and multi-factor authentication where possible. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remove any hardcoded credentials from applications, and proper patch management procedures should be established to ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of following secure coding practices and proper security configuration management, principles that align with various security frameworks and standards including those recommended by the center for internet security and the open web application security project. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts and limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities when they do occur.