CVE-2008-6580 in Red Reservations
Summary
by MITRE
The Red_Reservations script for ColdFusion stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download the database via a direct request to (1) makered.mdb and (2) makered97.mdb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-6580 represents a critical misconfiguration in the Red_Reservations script component of ColdFusion applications. This flaw stems from improper file access controls where sensitive database files are stored in directories accessible through the web root, creating an exploitable path for unauthorized data access. The specific database files mentioned include makered.mdb and makered97.mdb, which contain reservation data and related information that should remain protected from public access. This configuration error directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and proper access control implementation, allowing attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely through simple HTTP requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers can directly access database files through web requests without authentication or authorization checks. The flaw resides in the application's directory structure and file permissions where database files are placed in web-accessible locations rather than protected server-side directories. This misconfiguration enables attackers to construct direct URL requests to access the database files, potentially leading to complete data exposure including reservation records, user information, and other sensitive operational data. The vulnerability is classified as a path traversal or insecure direct object reference issue, which maps to CWE-22 and CWE-284 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to comprehensive system compromise and business disruption. Attackers gaining access to reservation databases can exploit the information for identity theft, financial fraud, or competitive intelligence gathering. The exposure of database contents may also reveal system architecture details, user patterns, and operational workflows that could facilitate further attacks. Organizations using ColdFusion applications with this vulnerability face significant regulatory compliance risks, particularly under data protection frameworks like gdpr and pci dss that mandate proper data protection measures. The vulnerability also enables potential denial of service scenarios if attackers corrupt or delete database files, and can provide attackers with information needed for privilege escalation attacks against the underlying system infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves moving database files outside the web root directory and implementing proper access controls through web server configuration or application-level authentication mechanisms. Security administrators should implement file permission restrictions to ensure that database files are not accessible through web requests and that only authorized application components can access these resources. Organizations should also establish regular security audits to identify and remediate similar misconfigurations throughout their application infrastructure. The remediation process should include implementing proper input validation and access control checks as recommended by the mitre attack framework, particularly focusing on preventing unauthorized direct object access patterns. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for and prevent exploitation attempts targeting these specific database file access patterns.