CVE-2007-2101 in FAC Guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
FAC Guestbook 3.01 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download a database via a direct request for db/gbdb.mdb. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2101 affects FAC Guestbook version 3.01, a web-based guestbook application that was commonly used for managing visitor comments on websites. This security flaw represents a critical misconfiguration that exposes sensitive data through improper file access controls. The vulnerability stems from the application's improper handling of database files, specifically storing the database file db/gbdb.mdb in a location accessible through the web root directory structure. This configuration allows unauthorized users to directly access and download the database file without proper authentication or authorization mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. The flaw occurs because the web application does not implement proper access controls or authentication checks before serving database files. When an attacker accesses the direct URL path db/gbdb.mdb, the web server serves the file without verifying whether the requester has legitimate authorization to access the database contents. This represents a fundamental failure in the application's security architecture where sensitive information is stored in a publicly accessible location, violating basic security principles of least privilege and proper access control.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant and far-reaching for any organization using the affected FAC Guestbook version. Attackers can directly download the entire database file containing guestbook entries, which may include personal information, IP addresses, timestamps, and potentially other sensitive data submitted by users. This exposure creates risks for privacy violations, data breaches, and potential identity theft scenarios. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges or complex exploitation techniques - simply knowing the direct file path is sufficient to obtain the database. The attack vector follows the ATT&CK framework's technique T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories, where adversaries extract data from databases through direct access methods.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing proper access controls and file management practices. Organizations should immediately relocate sensitive database files outside of the web root directory and ensure that all database access occurs through secure application interfaces rather than direct file system access. Implementing proper authentication and authorization mechanisms is essential, along with configuring web server access controls to prevent direct file access to database files. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that sensitive data is not stored in publicly accessible locations. The remediation approach should follow security best practices outlined in OWASP Top 10 2021, specifically addressing the prevention of sensitive data exposure through proper file access controls and secure configuration management. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and access control lists to further protect against unauthorized database access attempts.