CVE-2008-5129 in Poll Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Ocean12 Poll Manager Pro 1.00 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a direct request to o12poll.mdb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-5129 represents a critical security flaw in Ocean12 Poll Manager Pro version 1.00 that exposes sensitive data through improper file access controls. This issue stems from the application's failure to implement adequate access restrictions for database files stored within the web server's document root directory. The specific file affected is o12poll.mdb, which is a microsoft access database file containing poll data and potentially user information. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to directly access this database file through a simple http request, bypassing any intended authentication or authorization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs because the web server configuration fails to properly secure database files that are stored in publicly accessible directories. When the application places sensitive database files within the web root, it creates an attack surface where any user with knowledge of the file path can retrieve the database contents directly. This flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control enforcement. The vulnerability can be classified under CWE-276, which addresses improper file permissions, and represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference where the application exposes internal file references to external users without proper validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables unauthorized information disclosure that can lead to data breaches and potential system compromise. Attackers who discover the database file can extract all poll data, including potentially sensitive user responses, poll configurations, and other confidential information that may have been stored in the database. The exposure of such data could result in privacy violations, reputational damage, and potential compliance violations depending on the nature of the collected information. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication or specialized tools to exploit, making it accessible to any remote attacker who can guess or discover the file path.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy under attack techniques related to information gathering and data exposure. This flaw demonstrates poor security design practices and inadequate input validation in web applications. Organizations using this software would be at risk of having their poll data compromised, which could include sensitive survey responses, user demographics, or other confidential information collected through the polling mechanism. The vulnerability also represents a failure in proper application security architecture where database files should never be stored in web-accessible directories without proper access controls or encryption mechanisms in place.
Effective mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate removal of sensitive database files from web-accessible directories and implementation of proper access controls using web server configuration files. The application should be reconfigured to store database files outside the web root directory and access should be controlled through proper authentication mechanisms. Additionally, implementing proper file permission settings and using secure coding practices to prevent direct object references would address the root cause of this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security assessments to identify similar misconfigurations in their web applications. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper security architecture design and the critical need for regular security testing to identify and remediate such configuration flaws that can lead to serious data exposure incidents.