CVE-2008-1290 in ViewVC
Summary
by MITRE
ViewVC before 1.0.5 includes "all-forbidden" files within search results that list CVS or Subversion (SVN) commits, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1290 affects ViewVC versions prior to 1.0.5, representing a significant information disclosure flaw within version control system web interfaces. This vulnerability specifically impacts users of CVS and Subversion repositories who rely on ViewVC for browsing and searching commit histories. The issue stems from improper access control implementation within the search functionality, where the application fails to properly filter out restricted files from search results even when users lack appropriate permissions to access them. This flaw exists in the software's authorization mechanisms and demonstrates a critical failure in maintaining repository security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the search algorithm within ViewVC not adequately enforcing access controls during result generation. When users perform searches across CVS or SVN commit histories, the system returns results that include files marked as "all-forbidden" or restricted access, despite the fact that these files should be inaccessible to the querying user. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and access control enforcement. The vulnerability creates a scenario where unauthorized information disclosure occurs through the search interface, allowing attackers to gain knowledge of repository contents that they should not be able to access directly. This represents a classic case of inadequate input validation and access control enforcement in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to discover sensitive repository data including file paths, commit messages, and potentially even code content from restricted branches or directories. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to map repository structures, identify sensitive files, and potentially uncover information that could aid in subsequent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that use ViewVC as their primary interface for version control browsing and that maintain repositories with restricted access levels. The security implications are compounded by the fact that this information disclosure occurs through legitimate search functionality rather than through direct system access, making detection more difficult. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper information exposure, and represents a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement within web applications.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately upgrade to ViewVC version 1.0.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the access control flaw. System administrators should also conduct thorough security reviews of their version control access controls and implement additional monitoring for unusual search patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in version 1.0.5 typically involves strengthening the search result filtering mechanisms to properly enforce access controls and prevent unauthorized file listings from appearing in search results. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect and alert on anomalous search behavior that could indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation in web applications and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083, which covers discovery of files and directories, as attackers can use this information to better understand the target environment and plan further attacks.