CVE-2007-4873 in Simplenews
Summary
by MITRE
SimpNews 2.41.03 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download arbitrary .inc files via a direct request, as demonstrated by admin/includes/dbtables.inc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4873 represents a critical misconfiguration in the SimpNews content management system version 2.41.03 that exposes sensitive configuration files to unauthorized access. This issue stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the application's file management structure, allowing remote attackers to directly request and download arbitrary .inc files from the web root directory. The specific demonstration of this vulnerability involves the admin/includes/dbtables.inc file, which contains database connection parameters and other sensitive administrative information. This misconfiguration creates a pathway for attackers to gain unauthorized access to critical system components that should remain protected from public view.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor. The root cause lies in the application's improper file permissions and directory structure, where sensitive include files are stored in locations accessible through standard web requests without proper authentication or authorization checks. The vulnerability exists because the system fails to implement proper access controls that would normally restrict access to administrative configuration files. This allows attackers to bypass normal application logic and directly access files that contain database credentials, system configurations, and potentially other sensitive data that should only be accessible to authorized administrators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the foundational information needed to escalate their attacks. When an attacker successfully downloads the dbtables.inc file, they gain access to database connection strings, potentially including usernames, passwords, and host information that can be used to directly access the database. This exposure creates a significant risk for organizations using SimpNews, as it effectively removes the protection that should exist between the web application and its underlying database systems. The vulnerability also enables attackers to potentially discover additional administrative files, leading to further reconnaissance and exploitation opportunities that could compromise the entire web application infrastructure.
Security practitioners should address this vulnerability through immediate implementation of proper file access controls and directory permissions. The recommended mitigation involves moving sensitive include files outside the web root directory and implementing proper access control mechanisms that ensure only authorized users can access administrative configuration files. Organizations should also implement proper file permission settings that prevent direct web access to .inc files and other sensitive configuration components. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and proper application architecture design that separates sensitive data from publicly accessible web content. The remediation process should include regular security audits of file permissions and directory structures to prevent similar misconfigurations from occurring in other parts of the application ecosystem. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and access control lists can provide additional layers of protection against direct file access attempts that could exploit similar vulnerabilities.