CVE-2009-4760 in ASP Guestbook
Summary
by MITRE
Winn ASP Guestbook 1.01 Beta stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download a database via a direct request for data/guestbook.mdb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4760 affects Winn ASP Guestbook version 1.01 Beta, representing a critical security flaw in web application configuration and access control implementation. This issue stems from improper directory structure and file permissions that expose sensitive data to unauthorized users. The vulnerability specifically resides in the application's handling of database files, where the guestbook.mdb file containing user submissions and potentially sensitive information is stored within the web root directory structure. This placement fundamentally violates secure coding principles and web application security best practices, as it creates an attack surface where authenticated and unauthenticated users can directly access database files through simple HTTP requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a straightforward direct request mechanism that allows remote attackers to bypass normal application access controls. When an attacker accesses the URL path corresponding to data/guestbook.mdb, the web server serves the database file directly without any authentication checks or authorization verification. This represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference vulnerability, where the application exposes internal resource paths to external users without proper access controls. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it eliminates any form of access control enforcement, allowing any remote user to download the entire database containing guestbook entries, potentially including personal information, contact details, and other sensitive data submitted by users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates a persistent security risk that can lead to various downstream consequences. Attackers can potentially extract user credentials, personal information, and other confidential data that may have been submitted through the guestbook form. This exposure can result in identity theft, social engineering attacks, and compromise of user privacy. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security architecture practices, as it indicates that the application developers failed to implement proper access control mechanisms or security testing during the development lifecycle. Organizations using this software face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences due to the exposure of sensitive user information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The most critical immediate action involves moving the database file outside the web root directory and implementing proper access controls through authentication and authorization mechanisms. This aligns with the principle of least privilege and secure configuration practices outlined in various security frameworks. Organizations should implement proper input validation, output encoding, and access control checks to prevent direct object reference attacks. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments, as it represents a fundamental failure in application security design. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for unusual access patterns can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while regular security audits should ensure that similar misconfigurations do not occur in other application components. This vulnerability exemplifies how basic security misconfigurations can lead to severe consequences and underscores the need for comprehensive security awareness in software development processes.