CVE-2008-5929 in VP-ASP Shopping Cart
Summary
by MITRE
VP-ASP Shopping Cart 6.50 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download the database containing the password via a direct request for database/shopping650.mdb. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5929 affects VP-ASP Shopping Cart version 6.50, representing a critical configuration flaw that exposes sensitive data through improper access controls. This issue stems from the application's failure to implement adequate security measures when storing database files within the web root directory structure, creating an exploitable condition that directly compromises user authentication data.
The technical flaw manifests as a lack of proper access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized direct access to sensitive files. When the shopping cart application stores its database file shopping650.mdb in a location accessible through the web server's document root, it creates an attack surface where remote adversaries can directly request this file through standard http protocols. This configuration violates fundamental security principles that mandate sensitive data should never be placed in directories accessible by web clients without proper authentication and authorization controls.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to obtain complete database contents including user credentials, customer information, and potentially payment details through simple direct requests. The exposure of password hashes or plaintext credentials represents a severe compromise that could lead to complete system takeover, data breaches, and financial fraud. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and provides maximum impact, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where such misconfigurations often persist undetected for extended periods.
The security implications extend beyond simple data exposure to encompass broader compliance violations and risk management concerns. This flaw directly relates to CWE-275 permissions and access control, where inadequate access control mechanisms allow unauthorized access to sensitive resources. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for credential access through database dumps, representing a common attack vector in web application exploitation. Organizations deploying this software face potential regulatory violations under data protection frameworks such as pci dss and gdpr, as the exposure of user credentials constitutes a serious security incident requiring immediate remediation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate file relocation outside the web root directory, implementation of proper access controls using web server configuration directives, and establishment of regular security audits to identify similar misconfigurations. Additional protective measures include implementing authentication requirements for database access, deploying web application firewalls, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all web application components. Organizations should also establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized access attempts and ensure proper file permissions are maintained across all application data storage locations.