CVE-2008-0249 in phpwebquest
Summary
by MITRE
PHP Webquest 2.6 allows remote attackers to retrieve database credentials via a direct request to admin/backup_phpwebquest.php, which leaks the credentials in an error message if a call to /usr/bin/mysqldump fails. NOTE: this might only be an issue in limited environments.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0249 affects PHP Webquest version 2.6, a web-based application designed for creating and managing online quizzes and surveys. This security flaw represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability that occurs when the application fails to properly handle database backup operations. The vulnerability specifically manifests when administrators attempt to perform database backups through the web interface, creating a scenario where sensitive authentication information becomes exposed to unauthorized parties. The issue stems from the application's inadequate error handling mechanisms, which fail to sanitize error messages before displaying them to users. When the mysqldump utility encounters a failure during the backup process, the system generates an error message that inadvertently reveals database connection parameters including username and password information. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-209 classification, which addresses "Information Exposure Through an Error Message" and represents a common pattern where applications fail to properly manage error conditions that could expose sensitive system information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential leakage, as it provides attackers with the exact database connection details necessary to establish unauthorized database sessions. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication or privileged access to exploit, making it highly accessible to remote threat actors. An attacker only needs to navigate to the specific administrative endpoint admin/backup_phpwebquest.php and trigger a failure condition to obtain the database credentials. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which describes social engineering through spearphishing attachments, as the leaked credentials could be used to establish persistent access to the database infrastructure. The vulnerability's limited scope in some environments, as noted in the original description, suggests that it may only affect installations where the mysqldump utility is accessible and where specific directory permissions exist, but this does not mitigate the risk since attackers can still attempt to exploit the condition regardless of environmental constraints.
Security implications of this vulnerability are significant and multifaceted, as database credentials provide attackers with direct access to sensitive application data, user information, and potentially other connected systems. The leaked credentials could enable attackers to perform data exfiltration, modify database content, create backdoor accounts, or escalate privileges within the application environment. Organizations running affected versions of PHP Webquest face potential compliance violations if the exposed credentials lead to unauthorized access to regulated data sets. The vulnerability demonstrates poor security practices in error message handling and privilege management, as the application should never expose database connection parameters through any user-facing interface, regardless of the operational context. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the application to address the error handling flaw, implementing proper input validation for backup operations, and ensuring that error messages do not contain sensitive information. Additionally, administrators should review and restrict access to the backup functionality, implement network segmentation to limit exposure of administrative endpoints, and conduct regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components. The incident highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper error handling mechanisms in preventing information disclosure vulnerabilities that could compromise entire database infrastructures.