CVE-2008-5765 in WorkSimple
Summary
by MITRE
WorkSimple 1.2.1 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download the database file containing usernames and passwords via a direct request for data/usr.txt.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5765 affects WorkSimple version 1.2.1, a web application that improperly handles sensitive data storage and access control mechanisms. This flaw represents a critical security oversight that directly exposes authentication credentials to remote attackers without adequate protection measures. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement proper access controls for sensitive files stored within the web root directory, creating an exploitable condition that allows unauthorized access to critical user information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application storing database files containing user credentials in a location accessible through standard web requests. Specifically, the file data/usr.txt contains usernames and passwords in a format that can be directly retrieved by attackers through simple HTTP requests. This misconfiguration violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper file access control, as sensitive data is stored in a publicly accessible directory structure. The flaw is classified under CWE-732 as improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, where the application fails to properly restrict access to sensitive files within its web root.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and immediate, as it enables attackers to obtain complete user credential databases without requiring authentication or exploitation of additional vulnerabilities. Remote attackers can simply construct a direct URL request to access the sensitive file, making this attack vector extremely accessible and effective. The exposure of usernames and passwords creates significant risk for authentication bypass, lateral movement, and credential reuse attacks within affected environments. This vulnerability directly enables credential stuffing attacks and provides attackers with immediate access to potentially multiple user accounts, especially if password reuse occurs across systems.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for Valid Accounts and T1566 for Phishing, as it provides attackers with legitimate credentials that can be used for further compromise. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1083 for File and Directory Discovery, as attackers can easily enumerate and locate sensitive files through standard web reconnaissance activities. Organizations running affected versions of WorkSimple face significant risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential compromise of user accounts that rely on the exposed credentials for system access.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate implementation of proper file access controls, moving sensitive data files outside of the web root directory, and implementing robust authentication mechanisms for all file access requests. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits to identify and remediate similar misconfigurations in other applications and systems. Access control lists should be properly configured to ensure that sensitive files are not accessible through direct web requests, and file permissions should be strictly enforced to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, regular security testing and code reviews should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future development cycles, aligning with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards.