CVE-2008-5608 in ASP AutoDealer
Summary
by MITRE
ASP AutoDealer stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download the database file via a direct request for auto.mdb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-5608 represents a critical security flaw in the ASP AutoDealer web application that exposes sensitive data through improper access control mechanisms. This issue stems from the application's failure to implement adequate security measures when storing database files within the web root directory structure. The vulnerability specifically affects the auto.mdb database file which contains confidential information about automotive inventory, customer data, and potentially financial records. The flaw allows remote attackers to directly access and download this database file without proper authentication or authorization checks, creating a significant data exposure risk for organizations using this software.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the web application's insecure configuration where database files are placed in publicly accessible directories within the web server's document root. When an attacker makes a direct HTTP request for the auto.mdb file, the web server serves the file without verifying the requester's credentials or permissions. This represents a fundamental failure in access control design and violates core security principles of least privilege and secure by default configuration. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, commonly known as path traversal attacks. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and inadequate file access controls that permit unauthorized access to sensitive data repositories.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential business disruption, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage for affected organizations. Attackers can obtain complete database dumps containing customer personal information, vehicle details, pricing data, and potentially sensitive financial records that could be exploited for identity theft, fraud, or competitive intelligence gathering. Organizations using ASP AutoDealer may face significant regulatory penalties under data protection laws such as gdpr, hipaa, or similar privacy regulations depending on the nature of the data stored. The vulnerability also provides attackers with a complete snapshot of the organization's inventory management system, potentially enabling them to identify weaknesses in business processes or plan more sophisticated attacks against the organization's infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate exposure and underlying architectural issues that enabled the flaw. Organizations should immediately relocate database files outside of the web root directory and implement proper access controls that require authentication before allowing any database file access. The recommended approach includes configuring web server permissions to prevent direct access to database files, implementing authentication mechanisms for database access, and establishing proper file access controls using secure configuration practices. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive security assessments of their web applications to identify similar path traversal vulnerabilities and ensure that all sensitive data is properly protected through appropriate access controls. The remediation aligns with attack mitigation techniques described in the mitre attack framework under the privilege escalation and credential access tactics, emphasizing the importance of proper access control implementation and secure configuration management. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that access controls remain effective and that no new vulnerabilities have been introduced through application updates or configuration changes.