CVE-2007-1341 in Simple Invoices
Summary
by MITRE
include/auth/auth.php in Simple Invoices before 2007 03 05 does not use the login system to protect print preview pages for invoices, which might allow attackers to obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1341 affects Simple Invoices version 20070304 and earlier, representing a critical access control flaw in the application's authentication mechanism. This issue specifically targets the print preview functionality for invoices within the web-based accounting application, where the system fails to enforce proper user authentication checks before rendering sensitive financial data. The flaw exists in the include/auth/auth.php file, which serves as the central authentication module for the application's security controls. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks, where the application assumes that certain pages are safe to access without proper login verification, creating an information disclosure vulnerability that could be exploited by unauthorized parties.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the application's design pattern where print preview pages are not properly integrated into the authentication flow. When users navigate to invoice print preview functionality, the system does not validate whether the current session has proper authorization rights to access that specific content. This creates a scenario where any attacker with knowledge of the application's URL structure can directly access print preview pages without logging in, thereby bypassing the intended security controls. The vulnerability manifests as a failure to implement proper session validation and access control checks, which are fundamental security measures that should be enforced across all application components that handle sensitive data. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor security architecture where the application's authentication system is not consistently applied throughout all modules.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. Attackers could gain access to detailed financial information including customer data, invoice amounts, payment details, and other sensitive business information that would normally be restricted to authorized personnel only. This exposure could lead to financial fraud, identity theft, competitive intelligence gathering, and regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where accounting applications handle confidential financial data and are subject to strict regulatory requirements such as SOX compliance. The impact is amplified because the flaw affects core business functionality rather than just a minor user interface element, making it a high-value target for threat actors seeking to exploit financial information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive authentication controls across all application modules, particularly those handling sensitive data. The primary fix involves ensuring that the auth.php file properly validates user sessions before allowing access to any page that displays sensitive information, including print preview functionality. Security practitioners should implement proper session management with robust validation checks and ensure that all application components enforce access control policies consistently. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and could be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation, monitoring access patterns to sensitive pages, and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities. The fix should include proper input validation, session timeout mechanisms, and comprehensive logging of access attempts to sensitive data elements.