CVE-2008-3924 in CMME
Summary
by MITRE
The "Make a backup" functionality in Content Management Made Easy (CMME) 1.12 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to discover (1) account names and (2) password hashes via a direct request for (a) backup/cmme_data.zip or (b) backup/cmme_cmme.zip. NOTE: it was later reported that vector a also affects CMME 1.19.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3924 affects Content Management Made Easy version 1.12 and potentially 1.19, specifically targeting the backup functionality that is designed to create system backups. This flaw represents a critical misconfiguration in access control mechanisms where sensitive system data is stored in a location accessible to unauthorized users without proper authentication or authorization checks. The vulnerability manifests through the web root directory structure where backup files containing account names and password hashes are made directly accessible via HTTP requests, bypassing normal security controls that should protect such sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate file access controls within the CMME application's backup module. When users initiate the backup process, the system creates compressed archive files containing database information including user credentials and account details, but fails to properly secure these files within the web server's document root. The backup files cmme_data.zip and cmme_cmme.zip are stored in the backup directory under the web root, making them directly accessible through standard HTTP requests without requiring authentication. This configuration violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control, as demonstrated by the CWE-284 access control weakness classification.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with immediate access to authentication credentials and user account information that can be used for various malicious activities. Remote attackers can directly retrieve account names and password hashes through simple HTTP GET requests, eliminating the need for complex exploitation techniques or prior access to the system. This vulnerability enables credential stuffing attacks, lateral movement within networks, and potential privilege escalation attacks where attackers can leverage the discovered credentials to gain unauthorized access to additional system resources. The exposure of password hashes specifically aligns with ATT&CK technique T1110.003 credential access through password hashes, while the broader access to account information maps to T1078 legitimate credentials.
The vulnerability demonstrates a clear failure in secure configuration management and proper application security design. It represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference where the backup files are directly accessible without proper authorization checks, making it a direct violation of security best practices established in industry standards such as those outlined by the Open Web Application Security Project. The fact that this issue affects multiple versions of the software indicates a persistent design flaw in the backup implementation that was not properly addressed through version updates, suggesting a lack of comprehensive security testing and code review processes during development cycles. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including proper file access controls, secure backup storage locations outside the web root, and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising system integrity and user data confidentiality.