CVE-2007-3061 in Cactushop
Summary
by MITRE
Cactushop 6 and earlier stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download a database via a direct request for (1) cactushop6.mdb or (2) cactushop5.mdb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3061 represents a critical misconfiguration in Cactushop 6 and earlier versions that exposes sensitive database files to unauthorized remote access. This flaw stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the web application's file structure, where database files containing customer information, transaction records, and other confidential data are stored in directories accessible through standard web requests. The vulnerability specifically affects the Microsoft Access database files cactushop6.mdb and cactushop5.mdb, which are directly accessible without proper authentication or authorization checks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the fundamental principle of least privilege by placing database files in web-accessible directories without appropriate security controls. When remote attackers make direct HTTP requests for these specific database filenames, the web server responds by serving the database files directly to the requester. This misconfiguration creates an attack surface where sensitive information can be exfiltrated without any authentication requirements, making it particularly dangerous for e-commerce applications that handle personal and financial data. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-275 permissions issues and represents a classic case of insecure direct object references that allows attackers to bypass normal application access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential regulatory compliance violations and significant business risks. Organizations using affected versions of Cactushop face potential data breaches that could compromise customer information including personal details, purchase histories, and potentially payment information. The vulnerability enables attackers to gain unauthorized access to complete database contents, which could facilitate further attacks such as credential theft, identity fraud, or the development of additional exploit chains. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning for retail applications where customer data privacy is paramount and where the exposure of database contents could lead to substantial financial and reputational damage.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through proper access control implementation and architectural changes. Organizations must relocate database files outside of web-accessible directories and implement proper authentication mechanisms before allowing access to any database content. The solution involves configuring web server permissions to prevent direct access to database files while ensuring that application code properly validates access requests. This approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories and addresses the underlying security misconfiguration that enables this attack vector. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and access control checks within the application layer can prevent similar issues from occurring in future deployments, while regular security assessments should verify that sensitive data remains properly protected from unauthorized access attempts.