CVE-2010-0977 in PD PORTAL
Summary
by MITRE
PD PORTAL 4.0 stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download a database via a direct request for db/db.mdb.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-0977 represents a critical misconfiguration in PD PORTAL 4.0 that exposes sensitive database files to unauthorized remote access. This issue stems from improper access control mechanisms within the web application's file structure, where database files are stored in directories accessible through standard web requests. The vulnerability specifically affects the db/db.mdb file which contains sensitive information and data that should be protected from public access. This type of exposure constitutes a fundamental flaw in the application's security architecture and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through direct HTTP requests that bypass normal application authentication and authorization mechanisms. Attackers can simply construct a URL pointing to the database file location and retrieve the entire database contents without requiring any valid credentials or privileged access. This represents a classic case of insecure direct object reference vulnerability where the application fails to verify that the requesting user has proper authorization to access the requested resource. The flaw essentially provides an unauthenticated pathway to sensitive data that would normally be protected by application-level access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as the exposed database likely contains user credentials, personal information, business data, and potentially system configuration details. The remote nature of the attack means that threat actors can exploit this vulnerability from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the system or knowledge of internal network structures. This exposure creates a significant risk for organizations using PD PORTAL 4.0, as the database contents could be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or further attacks against the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability also violates fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing the risk of insecure direct object references and inadequate access control.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1213 (Data from Information Repositories) and T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) as attackers can directly access database files and potentially discover additional sensitive information. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor application design practices that should be addressed through proper input validation, access control implementation, and secure configuration management. Organizations should implement proper file permissions, restrict web-accessible directories, and ensure that sensitive data is stored outside of web root directories. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar misconfigurations that could lead to unauthorized data access and potential system compromise.
This vulnerability type is classified under CWE-22 (Improper Limiting of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory) and CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) which together describe the fundamental security flaws present in the application's architecture. The lack of proper access controls combined with insecure file placement creates a dangerous combination that significantly increases the attack surface of affected systems. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls, regular security audits, and proper incident response procedures to address such vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include immediate file permission changes, implementation of proper access controls, and comprehensive security testing to ensure that similar issues do not exist in other parts of the application or infrastructure.