CVE-2014-5028 in Review Board
Summary
by MITRE
The Original File and Patched File resources in Review Board 1.7.x before 1.7.27 and 2.0.x before 2.0.4 allow remote authenticated users to bypass intended access restrictions and obtain sensitive information from repository files by leveraging knowledge of database ids.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-5028 represents a critical access control flaw in Review Board version 1.7.x prior to 1.7.27 and 2.0.x prior to 2.0.4. This issue affects the handling of file resources within the review board system, specifically impacting how the application manages access to original and patched file versions stored in repositories. The flaw stems from insufficient authorization checks when processing requests for file resources, allowing authenticated users to bypass intended security restrictions through knowledge of database identifiers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the resource access layer of Review Board where database ids are used as part of the access control mechanism. When users request original file or patched file resources, the system relies on database identifiers to determine access permissions rather than properly validating user authorization against the actual repository contents. This design flaw creates a path where authenticated users can construct requests using known database ids to access files they should not be permitted to view, effectively bypassing the repository access controls that should prevent unauthorized file retrieval.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables unauthorized access to sensitive repository data that could include source code, configuration files, or other proprietary information. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can systematically enumerate database ids to gain access to various repository files, potentially exposing intellectual property, security configurations, or other confidential data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access, meaning that any user with legitimate credentials can exploit this flaw to access restricted repository content.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1005 for Data from Local System. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient access control validation where the system fails to properly verify user permissions before granting access to sensitive resources. Organizations using affected versions of Review Board face significant risk of data exposure, particularly in environments where repository contents contain sensitive or proprietary information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-5028 require immediate application of the vendor-provided patches to versions 1.7.27 and 2.0.4 or later. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring to detect suspicious access patterns related to file resource requests. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and authorization checks, particularly when database identifiers are used as access control mechanisms. Organizations should conduct thorough security reviews of their repository access controls and implement principle of least privilege configurations to minimize potential impact from similar vulnerabilities in the future.