CVE-2008-5128 in Membership Manager Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Ocean12 Membership Manager Pro stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request to o12member.mdb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-5128 represents a critical security flaw in the Ocean12 Membership Manager Pro web application that stems from improper file access controls and insecure configuration practices. This issue exposes sensitive database files directly accessible through the web server's document root, creating an avenue for remote attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to confidential membership data.
The technical flaw manifests as a misconfiguration where the database file o12member.mdb is stored in a location accessible via standard web requests rather than being properly secured within a restricted server directory. This configuration violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement, allowing any remote user to directly request the database file through a simple http GET request. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-275 permissions issues and specifically CWE-264 permissions, properties, and attributes, as it demonstrates inadequate access control mechanisms for sensitive data storage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with immediate access to all membership information stored within the database. This includes potentially sensitive user credentials, personal identification details, contact information, and membership status data that could be exploited for identity theft, social engineering attacks, or unauthorized access to additional systems. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers do not require physical access to the server or local network connectivity, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for web-hosted applications.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the attack chain methodology, where it represents a critical initial access point that could lead to further exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories and T1078.004 for valid accounts, as it provides access to stored credentials and user information. Organizations should immediately implement proper file access controls by moving sensitive database files outside the web root directory, implementing proper authentication mechanisms, and ensuring that all database files are protected by appropriate access controls and encryption. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that no sensitive files remain accessible through web requests, and that proper input validation and access control mechanisms are in place to prevent similar configuration errors.
The remediation approach must include comprehensive security hardening measures such as proper directory structure configuration, implementation of access control lists, and deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and block unauthorized database access attempts. System administrators should also establish regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar misconfigurations across all web applications and services within the organization's infrastructure.