CVE-2008-5956 in Webboard
Summary
by MITRE
Wbstreet (aka PHPSTREET Webboard) 1.0 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain database credentials via a direct request to connect.inc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5956 affects Wbstreet (also known as PHPSTREET Webboard) version 1.0, representing a critical security flaw in web application configuration and access control mechanisms. This issue stems from the improper placement of sensitive configuration files within the web root directory structure, creating an exploitable condition that violates fundamental security principles of information hiding and privilege separation. The vulnerability specifically resides in the application's handling of database connection parameters, which are stored in a file named connect.inc that can be accessed directly by remote attackers without proper authentication or authorization checks.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient access control measures that fail to properly restrict access to sensitive configuration files. When the web application places database credentials and connection parameters in a location accessible via standard web requests, it creates a direct attack vector that bypasses normal application security controls. The connect.inc file contains database connection strings, usernames, and passwords that are essential for database access, making this exposure particularly dangerous as it provides attackers with immediate credentials to access backend databases. This configuration error represents a violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor security architecture where sensitive data is not properly isolated from public web access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the means to directly compromise backend database systems. Remote attackers can simply construct a web request to access the connect.inc file and extract database credentials, which then enables them to perform unauthorized database operations including data extraction, modification, or deletion. This vulnerability can be exploited by any remote user with knowledge of the application's file structure, making it particularly dangerous in environments where the web application is publicly accessible. The exposure of database credentials can lead to complete database compromise, data breaches, and potential system-wide infiltration through database-based attack vectors. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-200: Information Exposure vulnerability, while the ATT&CK framework would categorize this under T1566: Phishing and T1071.004: Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as attackers can leverage this information to conduct further reconnaissance and exploitation activities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate remediation of the application's file access controls and proper configuration of web server permissions. Organizations should relocate sensitive configuration files outside the web root directory and implement proper access control mechanisms using web server configuration directives such as .htaccess files or directory-level access restrictions. The recommended approach involves ensuring that configuration files containing database credentials are only accessible to the web application process itself and not through standard web requests. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and access control checks within the application code can help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files. Security hardening practices should include regular vulnerability scanning, proper file permission settings, and implementation of web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious access patterns. The fix should also involve implementing proper logging and monitoring of access attempts to sensitive files, which can help identify potential exploitation attempts and provide forensic evidence for security incident response activities.