CVE-2008-2064 in PhpGedView
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in PhpGedView before 4.1.5 have unknown impact and attack vectors related to "a fundamental design flaw in the interface (API) to connect phpGedView with external programs like content management systems."
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-2064 affects PhpGedView versions prior to 4.1.5 and represents a critical design flaw within the application's interface architecture that facilitates integration with external systems. This fundamental weakness exists in the application programming interface that connects PhpGedView with content management systems and other external programs, creating potential security risks that extend beyond the core application boundaries. The unspecified nature of the vulnerabilities suggests multiple attack surfaces that could be exploited through various vectors, making the impact particularly concerning for organizations relying on this genealogy software for family tree management and genealogical research.
The technical flaw resides in the API design that governs how PhpGedView interacts with external systems, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive genealogical data or system resources. This interface design vulnerability creates pathways for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior when integrated with content management systems, content management frameworks, or other web applications. The design flaw likely involves inadequate input validation, insufficient authentication checks, or improper access control mechanisms within the API layer that handles external connections. Such vulnerabilities often fall under CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) or CWE-345 (Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity) categories, where the weakness manifests in the application's architecture rather than in specific code implementations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly beyond the immediate application scope, particularly affecting organizations that integrate PhpGedView with other web platforms or content management systems. Attackers could potentially exploit this interface flaw to gain unauthorized access to genealogical databases containing sensitive personal information, family histories, and potentially confidential relationships between individuals. The vulnerability becomes more dangerous in environments where PhpGedView is deployed alongside other web applications, as the compromised interface could serve as a stepping stone for broader system penetration. Organizations using this software for genealogical research, family history projects, or genealogical record management face potential exposure of private family information, particularly in scenarios where the application is hosted on shared servers or integrated with other web services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-2064 should prioritize immediate software updates to PhpGedView version 4.1.5 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the identified interface design flaws. System administrators should conduct comprehensive security assessments of all external integrations with the application, implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack vectors. The implementation of proper input validation, authentication mechanisms, and access control policies within the API layer represents critical defensive measures that align with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access. Additionally, organizations should establish monitoring protocols to detect unauthorized access attempts and maintain regular security updates for all integrated systems, as the vulnerability's impact is amplified when PhpGedView operates within complex web environments that include multiple interconnected applications and services.