CVE-2008-6109 in Animal Shelter Manager
Summary
by MITRE
Robin Rawson-Tetley Animal Shelter Manager (ASM) before 2.2.2 does not properly enforce the privileges of user accounts, which allows local users to bypass intended access restrictions by (1) opening unspecified screens, related to the "double click selector bug"; or modifying a (2) animal, (3) owner, (4) lost/found, (5) diary note, (6) owner donation, or (7) waiting list record, related to "change permissions" and the "new UI."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-6109 affects Robin Rawson-Tetley Animal Shelter Manager version 2.2.1 and earlier, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of this specialized software used in animal shelters worldwide. This issue manifests through inadequate privilege enforcement mechanisms that allow local attackers to bypass intended access restrictions through two distinct exploitation vectors. The first vector involves a "double click selector bug" that enables unauthorized access to unspecified screens, while the second vector exploits "change permissions" and "new UI" functionalities to modify critical database records. These vulnerabilities collectively represent a failure in the software's authorization framework, creating pathways for malicious users to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive shelter management data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and privilege checking mechanisms within the application's user interface components. The "double click selector bug" suggests a flaw in how the software handles user interactions with graphical elements, potentially allowing local users to manipulate interface states or bypass access controls through unintended user actions. The "change permissions" and "new UI" related issues indicate that the application fails to properly validate user permissions before allowing modifications to critical database records. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software applications, and specifically relates to the lack of proper authorization checks during user interactions with database records. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple data types including animal records, owner information, lost/found reports, diary notes, owner donations, and waiting list entries, indicating a systemic flaw rather than isolated component failure.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-6109 extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables local users to potentially corrupt or manipulate critical shelter management data that directly affects animal welfare and operational efficiency. An attacker with local access could modify animal records to hide or alter information about animals in care, manipulate owner data leading to incorrect adoption records, or modify diary notes that document important care activities. The ability to modify owner donations and waiting list records could result in financial discrepancies and operational chaos within the shelter. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes local privilege escalation through application vulnerabilities, and T1566, which encompasses credential access through exploitation of application flaws. The implications are particularly severe for animal shelters that rely on accurate record-keeping for legal compliance, animal care documentation, and adoption tracking.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper access control enforcement and privilege validation mechanisms. Organizations should upgrade to version 2.2.2 or later, which specifically addresses these access control flaws. System administrators should implement strict user account management practices, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive data modification functions. The application should be configured with least privilege principles, limiting user capabilities to only those necessary for their specific roles within the shelter management system. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect unauthorized access attempts, while regular security audits should verify that access controls function as intended. Additionally, the software should be hardened through code review processes to identify and remediate similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious activities related to database modifications, particularly around the identified record types that are vulnerable to this exploit.