CVE-2010-0123 in Employee Timeclock Software
Summary
by MITRE
The database backup implementation in Employee Timeclock Software 0.99 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download a database via a direct request for a "semi-predictable file name."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-0123 represents a critical security flaw in the Employee Timeclock Software version 0.99 that stems from improper handling of database backup files within the web application's file structure. This issue manifests as a directory traversal and information disclosure vulnerability that directly compromises the confidentiality of sensitive employee data stored within the application's database. The flaw occurs because the backup functionality creates database files in locations accessible through the web server's document root, creating an attack surface that bypasses normal application security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the software's backup mechanism generating database files with semi-predictable naming conventions that can be enumerated by remote attackers. This predictable file naming scheme combined with the placement of backup files under the web root directory creates a scenario where unauthorized users can directly access and download these sensitive database files through simple HTTP requests. The insufficient access control measures mean that no authentication or authorization checks are performed when accessing these backup files, allowing any remote attacker to obtain potentially sensitive employee timeclock data including work hours, attendance records, and personal information.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes organizations to significant data breach risks as it enables attackers to obtain comprehensive employee time and attendance records without requiring any special privileges or credentials. The exposure of such data can lead to privacy violations, compliance violations under various data protection regulations, and potential misuse of personal information for identity theft or fraudulent activities. The vulnerability also represents a failure in the principle of least privilege, where backup files that should be protected and accessible only to authorized system administrators are made publicly available through web server configuration errors.
Security controls should address this vulnerability by implementing proper file access restrictions and ensuring that backup files are stored outside of the web-accessible directory structure. Organizations should enforce strict access controls on all database backup files and implement proper authentication mechanisms before allowing access to any sensitive data. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Directory Traversal and CWE-200 Information Disclosure, representing a classic case where improper file permissions and directory structure design create exploitable conditions. The attack vector described in this vulnerability can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1213 Data from Information Repositories, as it involves extracting sensitive data from database systems through unauthorized access to backup files. Mitigation strategies should include immediate reconfiguration of file storage locations, implementation of proper access controls, and regular security assessments to identify similar misconfigurations in web applications and database systems.