CVE-2008-5981 in PacPoll
Summary
by MITRE
PacPoll 4.0 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download a database via a direct request for (1) poll.mdb or (2) poll97.mdb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5981 affects PacPoll version 4.0, a web-based polling application that suffers from poor security practices in its file management and access control mechanisms. This issue represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference where sensitive database files are stored in publicly accessible directories without proper authentication or authorization checks. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement adequate access controls for critical system files, specifically the Microsoft Access database files poll.mdb and poll97.mdb that contain all polling data and configuration information.
The technical flaw manifests through the application's improper handling of file requests, where direct access to database files is permitted without verifying user credentials or session validity. When attackers make direct HTTP requests to access these database files, the web server serves them without any access restrictions, effectively exposing sensitive information including poll results, user data, and potentially administrative credentials. This weakness falls under the CWE-22 category of Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as Path Traversal, which is a fundamental security misconfiguration that allows unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor secure coding practices in web application development.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with complete access to the entire polling database without requiring any authentication or authorization. This exposure can lead to data breaches, information disclosure, and potential system compromise through the exploitation of sensitive information contained within the database files. Attackers can download and analyze the poll.mdb and poll97.mdb files to extract confidential data, potentially including user personal information, voting records, and administrative details that could be used for further attacks or malicious activities. The vulnerability also enables attackers to modify or manipulate the polling data, potentially compromising the integrity and authenticity of the polling system, which is particularly concerning for applications handling sensitive or critical information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper access controls and secure file management practices. Organizations should immediately relocate sensitive database files outside of the web root directory and ensure that all file access requests are properly authenticated and authorized through the application's legitimate user interface. The implementation of proper input validation and access control mechanisms should be enforced to prevent direct object reference attacks, with the application's code being reviewed to ensure that no sensitive files are accessible through simple URL requests. Additionally, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1213.002 (Data from Information Repositories) and T1566.001 (Phishing with Social Engineering) as attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. Regular security assessments and secure coding practices should be implemented to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future development cycles, emphasizing the importance of proper file access control and the principle of least privilege in web application security.