CVE-2008-6357 in MyCal Personal Events Calendar
Summary
by MITRE
MyCal Personal Events Calendar stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download a database containing the username and password via a direct request to mycal.mdb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-6357 represents a critical misconfiguration in MyCal Personal Events Calendar software that exposes sensitive authentication data to remote attackers. This issue stems from improper access control mechanisms within the web application's file structure, where the database file containing user credentials is stored in a location accessible through standard web requests. The database file mycal.mdb contains username and password information in cleartext format, making it an attractive target for unauthorized access attempts. This misconfiguration allows attackers to directly access the database through a simple HTTP request, eliminating the need for complex exploitation techniques or prior authentication.
The technical flaw manifests as a failure to implement proper authorization controls and file system permissions. The application stores sensitive database files under the web root directory without adequate protection mechanisms, creating a path traversal vulnerability that directly exposes database contents. This weakness aligns with CWE-22 Path Traversal and CWE-73 Path Traversal, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to access files outside of intended directories. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and affects the confidentiality aspect of the CIA triad, as it enables unauthorized disclosure of authentication credentials without requiring any specialized tools or advanced exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft, as it provides attackers with persistent access to user accounts within the calendar application. Once an attacker obtains the database file, they can extract all stored user credentials and potentially use them to gain access to other systems where users may have reused passwords. This vulnerability enables privilege escalation attacks and can facilitate broader network infiltration. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication, no complex exploitation, and can be executed by any remote user with basic web browsing capabilities. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as it provides legitimate access credentials that can be used for further attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper access controls and file system permissions. Organizations should relocate sensitive database files outside of the web root directory and implement proper authentication checks before allowing access to any database content. The application should enforce strict access control lists that prevent direct file access through web requests, requiring proper application-level authentication and authorization mechanisms. Security configurations must include proper file permissions that restrict access to database files to only authorized application processes. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that sensitive files are not exposed through web directories, and network monitoring should detect unauthorized access attempts to database files. The solution aligns with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards, which emphasize the importance of access control and data protection measures to prevent unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information.