CVE-2007-2979 in Web Directory
Summary
by MITRE
Techno Dreams Web Directory / Search Engine 2.0 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download a database via a direct request for Database.mdb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-2979 represents a critical misconfiguration issue within the Techno Dreams Web Directory and Search Engine version 2.0 software. This flaw stems from improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to directly access sensitive database files through simple HTTP requests. The vulnerability specifically affects the database.mdb file which contains structured data about directory entries and search functionality, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise the entire directory system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-275 permissions issues and CWE-552 files and directories accessible to unauthorized actors. The software fails to implement proper authentication and authorization checks before serving database files, allowing any remote attacker to simply append the database file name to the web root path and retrieve the entire database. This represents a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture where sensitive data is stored in a location that is directly accessible via HTTP requests without any form of access restriction or user verification.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant impact for organizations using this software. Attackers can obtain complete database contents including directory listings, search indexes, and potentially user-related information that may contain sensitive data. The immediate consequence is data exposure that can lead to information disclosure, potentially compromising the integrity of the directory system. In some cases, this database may contain personal information about users or sensitive organizational data, making the impact more severe than initially apparent.
The attack vector is straightforward and requires minimal technical expertise to exploit. Remote attackers need only know the web root path and the specific filename of the database to execute a successful download attack. This vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories and T1083 for file and directory discovery. The lack of access controls means that the attack can be executed without prior authentication or authorization, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that do not properly secure their data storage locations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper access controls and secure configuration practices. The database file should be moved outside the web root directory and access should be restricted through proper authentication mechanisms. Organizations should implement role-based access control and ensure that sensitive files are not directly accessible via web requests. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that no sensitive data is stored in publicly accessible directories. The software should be updated to a newer version that properly implements access control measures, and administrators should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify other potential misconfigurations that could expose sensitive data.