CVE-2007-1597 in Unclassified NewsBoard
Summary
by MITRE
Unclassified NewsBoard 1.6.3 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain (1) the board log via a direct request for logs/board-YYYY-MM-DD.log, (2) the mail and private message (PM) log via a direct request for logs/email-YY-MM-DD-HH-MM-SS.log, (3) the SQL error message log via a direct request for logs/error-YY-MM.log, and (4) the IP log via a direct request for logs/ip.log.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1597 affects Unclassified NewsBoard version 1.6.3, a web-based bulletin board system that suffers from inadequate access control mechanisms for sensitive log files stored within the web root directory. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that exposes multiple types of sensitive information to remote attackers through direct URL access patterns. The vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of file permissions and access controls, allowing unauthorized users to retrieve confidential data without authentication or authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the web application's failure to enforce proper access controls on log files that are stored in the web-accessible directory structure. Attackers can exploit this weakness by directly requesting specific log files through predictable URL patterns such as logs/board-YYYY-MM-DD.log for board logs, logs/email-YY-MM-DD-HH-MM-SS.log for email and private message logs, logs/error-YY-MM.log for SQL error messages, and logs/ip.log for IP address information. This direct access pattern demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture where sensitive data is stored with insufficient protection mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with access to various categories of sensitive information that could be used for further exploitation or malicious activities. Board logs may contain user activity patterns and system interactions that could reveal operational details about the bulletin board's usage and configuration. Email and private message logs expose communications between users and administrators, potentially containing personal information, credentials, or sensitive business data. SQL error logs could provide attackers with database structure information and error details that might aid in database exploitation attempts. IP logs reveal connection patterns and potentially user locations, which could be used for network reconnaissance or targeted attacks.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses the improper exposure of sensitive information, and CWE-22, which covers improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. The flaw also corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1083, which involves discovering system information through directory listing and file access, and T1071, which covers application layer protocol usage for data exfiltration. The security implications extend beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting, system reconnaissance, and targeted exploitation of other system components. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient access control where the principle of least privilege is violated, allowing unauthorized access to data that should remain protected within the application's internal security boundaries.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper access controls for sensitive log files, including moving log files outside the web root directory, implementing authentication checks for log file access, and configuring appropriate file permissions. Security measures should also include regular security audits of file access patterns, implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious direct file access attempts, and establishing proper logging and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing automated tools to scan for similar vulnerabilities in other applications and ensure that sensitive data is properly protected through appropriate access control mechanisms and secure configuration practices.