CVE-2009-2159 in TorrentTrader Classic
Summary
by MITRE
backup-database.php in TorrentTrader Classic 1.09 does not require administrative authentication, which allows remote attackers to create and download a backup database by making a direct request and then retrieving a .gz file from backups/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/01/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2159 represents a critical access control flaw in the TorrentTrader Classic 1.09 web application. This issue stems from the backup-database.php script failing to implement proper administrative authentication checks before allowing database backup operations. The flaw enables unauthenticated remote attackers to directly access the backup functionality and create database dumps without requiring valid administrative credentials or session management. The vulnerability specifically affects the backup-database.php component which is designed to handle database backup operations but lacks the necessary authorization mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exposes the application to significant operational risks as it allows attackers to bypass standard authentication procedures entirely. When an attacker makes a direct HTTP request to the backup-database.php endpoint, the application processes the request without verifying the user's administrative privileges. This creates a path for malicious actors to extract sensitive database information including user credentials, personal data, and application configuration details. The backup functionality is particularly dangerous because it can produce complete database snapshots that may contain encrypted passwords, user session information, and other sensitive operational data. These backups are stored in the backups/ directory and can be retrieved by attackers through direct file access, making the vulnerability extremely exploitable.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches and system compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain access to user accounts, personal information, and potentially sensitive application configuration data. The backup files generated are typically compressed with .gz extensions, indicating they contain structured database content that can be easily decompressed and analyzed. This vulnerability directly violates security principle of least privilege and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the application's access control implementation. The absence of proper authentication checks in what should be a privileged administrative function creates an entry point that can lead to complete system compromise, especially when combined with other vulnerabilities or attack vectors.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle that administrative functions should require appropriate authentication and authorization. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1213.002 (Data from Information Repositories) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can leverage this flaw to extract database information and potentially escalate privileges. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires no prior credentials or session information to exploit, making it a high-severity issue that can be immediately actionable by threat actors. Organizations using TorrentTrader Classic 1.09 should implement immediate mitigations including access control restrictions on the backup-database.php script, proper authentication enforcement, and network-level restrictions to prevent unauthorized access to backup functionality. Additionally, regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in other administrative components of the application.